Another Blake Makes Impression
Jason Blake, skating for the University of North Dakota in the NCAA tournament less than a month ago, got the phone call Friday night in Cleveland, where he was playing for Orlando of the International Hockey League, made it to Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon and Sunday found himself in the NHL, skating on a line with Glen Murray and Vladimir Tsyplakov.
At 12:03 of the third period, he scored his first NHL goal, threw his hands in the air and was pounded on the head by Rob Blake and grabbed by Luc Robitaille.
“He played well,” Coach Larry Robinson said. “If he had any luck, he could have had a goal and five assists.”
The game impressed the Kings’ management enough to have them working on a three-year contract with Blake, 25.
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Defenseman Doug Bodger said Sunday it was “50-50 right now” that he would retire after 15 seasons in the NHL.
One factor in his future is what plans the Kings have for him, or whatever offers are made by other teams. Bodger is an unrestricted free agent who earned $1.3 million this season.
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