Kings Sign Defenseman Blake to 2-Year Contract

King defenseman Rob Blake has signed a new contract with the club, Blake said Wednesday. The two-year deal, one year plus an option year, was not announced by the team.

“It was signed, sealed and delivered (last week),” said Blake, who was one of the lowest-paid Kings at $165,000 per season. “A four-year deal would have been great. But they were very good to me.”

Blake, 22, is in his third full season with the Kings. Last season, he scored seven goals and 20 points in 57 games. He has one goal and four assists in seven games this season.

Also, the Kings claimed left winger Lonnie Loach on waivers. Loach, 24, played for King Coach Barry Melrose last season at Adirondack in the American Hockey League and scored 37 goals and had 49 assists. He appeared in three games for the expansion Ottawa Senators this season.

“The plan is that he’ll end up (with the Kings),” Melrose said. “We didn’t pick him up to have him play in Phoenix.”