Pronger Contract Good for Blake

The idea is to get market value for a player, but the market is a moving target in the NHL that, for Rob Blake at least, might be coming closer to standing still.

Chris Pronger’s agreeing to a three-year, $29.5-million deal with the St. Louis Blues would seem to be an indicator of Blake’s value to the Kings, at least if you listen to Blake’s agent, Ron Salcer.

“It’s good news,” Salcer said Friday. “Anything that happens like that would affect Rob because he, Pronger and [the Detroit Red Wings’ Nicklas] Lidstrom are the best defensemen in the world.

“It also shows that the Blues’ management is committed to keeping their franchise player in St. Louis. We haven’t seen that commitment here.”

Pronger and Blake are their team’s captains and have won the Norris Trophy.

At the beginning of training camp, the Kings proffered a “take-it-or-leave-it” deal that would pay Blake an average of $7.5 million a season for the next three years. Blake left it, and Salcer said it was below market.

But nobody really knew what the market was. Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers is the league’s highest-paid defenseman this season at $7.68 million. Lidstrom earns $7.25 million.

Salcer also offered another aspect of the negotiation with the Kings, from whom he has heard nothing since Blake turned down their offer in training camp.

“I haven’t had a chance to see the Pronger deal, but remember this: Pronger is a restricted free agent,” Salcer said. “He had no right to negotiate with any other team.

“Rob has an obligation to fulfill this contract and he will. After that, he can negotiate with 30 teams.”

Blake is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Salcer said no team has contacted him about a trade, a conversation that probably would happen because any team seeking to acquire Blake would want to sign him to a long-term deal first, rather than take a chance on losing him after only a part of one season.

“Our preference would be to sign him,” said Dave Taylor, the team’s senior vice president and general manager.

Salcer, who has represented several Kings--including Taylor--offered this take on the situation: “St. Louis has signed Pronger. L.A. has chosen to keep this veil over the season.”

*

Wingers Craig Johnson (foot) and Jason Blake (bruised hip) have sat out the last two games because of their injuries, but both skated with no problem Friday.

That doesn’t mean they will play tonight at Phoenix.

“We have been playing well, and to change the lineup would send the wrong message to the team,” Coach Andy Murray said.

Tonight

at Phoenix, 7 PDT

* Site--America West Arena.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 5-4-2, Coyotes 7-1-2.

* Record vs. Coyotes--0-1.

* Update--Phoenix beat the Kings, 6-5, in a wild game Oct. 15 at Staples Center. The Coyotes are off to their best start in franchise history and, despite being outshot in each, are unbeaten (5-0-2) in their last seven games after Friday night’s 4-2 victory over the Dallas Stars.