Blake wants more money

Archived from 1998-99 season.

The Norris Tophy winner Rob Blake may not be there when the Los Angeles Kings open training camp. The team offered Blake, who is a restricted free agent, a five-year deal worth $25 million in June that he turned down. Now it is September and so far there is no new offer.

"We're prepared to make him the highest-paid defenseman in the NHL," said Tim Leiweke, the Kings' president, the benchmark being the $15-million, three-year deal the St. Louis Blues gave Al MacInnis.

But that may not be enough to get Balke signed.

"I don't feel you get paid according to the position you play," said Blake's agent, Ron Salcer. "I think you get paid by your value to the hockey club, and Rob is certainly as valuable to the Kings as any of the top players are to their organizations."

That means Blake wants to be paid like some of the top forwards in the NHL. Altough Blake nor his agent has specifically said it, they reportedly want same as Toronto's Mats Sundin is getting or $6,347,164 this season.

Blake has spend nine years with the Kings, just moved into a home in Manhattan Beach with his new wife, and he wants to stay in Los Angeles.

"And I want to play," Blake said. "I want to be on the ice. I have missed time before because of , and I know that any month you miss means that it takes two months to catch up."

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