Blake May Be From Canada, but He Wants to Stay in L.A.

King captain Rob Blake told reporters Tuesday that he wants to sign with the Kings, wants to continue to live in Southern California.

Nothing new there, except the reporters were from Ontario, where the populace is determined to get him traded to Toronto or know the reason why.

Blake, who is in the final year of a three-year contract and can be an unrestricted free agent after the season, will speak this morning at a media meeting--not a formal news conference--which is expected to be attended by everybody in Toronto with a press pass.

Assuming Blake adheres to the line he has espoused since his contract became an issue in September, when he turned down a three-year, $21.5-million offer from the Kings, he will tell the group, yes, he is from suburban Toronto, and yes, he did grow up with the Maple Leafs.

But he will also tell them that he is quite happy living in Manhattan Beach.

“It’s the lifestyle,” Blake said Tuesday, “but I also remember how it was with L.A. fans when we went to the finals in ’93.”

*

Blake and winger Luc Robitaille were named to the North American team for the NHL All-Star game. It will be Blake’s fourth time as an all-star.

Winger Ziggy Palffy is expected to be named to the World All-Star team today.

TONIGHT

at Toronto, 4:30 PST

Fox Sports Net, ESPN2

* Site--Air Canada Centre.

* Radio--KSPN (1110).

* Records--Kings 20-17-7-1, Maple Leafs 21-14-7-3.

* Record vs. Maple Leafs (1999-2000)--0-1.

* Update--The Maple Leafs are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games, and center Mats Sundin leads them with 16 goals and 24 assists. Toronto followers figure that is somewhat less than $7.5 million a year should buy and are riding him pretty hard.