Blake Returns to Los Angeles to Finish His Career

Rob Blake is returning to his roots.

Blake, who began his stellar career with the Los Angeles Kings in 1989-90, agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the team Saturday after spending the last 4 1/2 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.

A fourth-round pick in 1988, Blake was a mainstay on Los Angeles' blue line before being traded to Colorado in February 2001. The 36-year-old appeared in four All-Star Games during his first tenure with the Kings and won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 1998.

"Rob Blake is a special player and, more importantly, a special person," Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said. "He belongs in a Kings uniform."

The highest-scoring defenseman in team history, Blake served as the Kings' captain from 1996-2001 and helped the club to its only Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 1993. He is first among Los Angeles blue-liners in goals (138) and assists (291) and is 10th overall on the franchise list with 429 points.

A finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player during his three years with Bowling Green, Blake went on to appear in three All-Star Games with Colorado and played a major role in the Avalanche's Stanley Cup championship run in 2001.

Last season, Blake registered 14 goals and 37 assists in 81 games with Colorado. He has collected 200 tallies and 637 points in 984 career contests with the Kings and Avalanche.