Blake Deal Shouldn’t Be Taylor-Made

What is the problem with Dave Taylor? How can he even consider letting Rob Blake go? Taylor is a sit-on-his-hands kind of general manager who hasn’t accomplished a great deal in his tenure. Never given to bold moves as a player, he continues to approach his current job in the same manner. Let him go to Toronto. If the Kings’ owners have any sense, they will make sure Blake isn’t the one to go.

BILL COADY, Paradise

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Maybe it’s just me, but our hockey team looks like Kings of the chessboard while playing the league’s best teams: Dallas, Colorado, Detroit, Ottawa, Toronto, etc. Then we play the likes of Atlanta, Minnesota, Florida, Tampa Bay, etc., and look like pawns frozen in our tracks, watching these lesser teams skate circles around us.

As a fan, I’m perplexed. How does this happen time and again? Whose fault is it? Whom do we blame?

The goaltending? It’s adequate.

The scorers? We have an explosive offense.

The defense? Maybe we are the Rams of the NHL.

The coach? Most likely.

If the Kings continue to play an uninspired brand of hockey, drawing sellout crowds and getting embarrassed, Andy Murray will take the blame. Playing without passion is a cardinal sin in any sport.

So, what’s the answer?

Hire Mike Keenan? Dump Rob Blake and Ziggy Palffy and go with a bunch of hungry kids? Make Luc Robitaille the GM?

Here’s an idea: Keep Murray and dump Dave Taylor.

Your move.

RICHARD C. VINCELLI, Tujunga

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I believe I have a solution to the Rob Blake impasse, which addresses the Kings’ goaltending woes at the same time.

Blake should re-sign at the Kings’ asking price of $8 million per season on one condition: The Kings take the difference between their price and Blake’s price and apply it to an offer to go get Nikolai Khabibulin.

MATTHEW L. DADAY, Rowland Heights

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If Dave Taylor would just look across town and see what the Ducks are getting for $18 million on Kariya and Selanne, Rob Blake would start to look like a real bargain.

ZACHARY RYNEW, West Los Angeles

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Not signing Rob Blake makes about as much economic sense as me going out tomorrow and buying an electric car.

MICHAEL GRAY, Placentia