Rob Blake’s No. 4 jersey to be retired by Kings

Rob Blake, the Kings’ Hall of Fame-bound defenseman and current executive, will have his No. 4 jersey retired in a special pregame ceremony Jan. 17 at Staples Center, the team announced Monday.

Blake, the Kings’ assistant general manager, will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November.

His white jersey will be placed aside those of former Kings Luc Robitaille, Wayne Gretzky, Dave Taylor, Marcel Dionne and Rogie Vachon in the rafter at Staples Center. The Kings play the Ducks on Jan. 17.

“It is an honor to be included with the former great L.A. King players who have their jerseys retired,” Blake said in a team statement. “I have always felt L.A. was a special place to play and it was and is a tremendous privilege to put on an L.A. Kings jersey.”

Blake is the all-time leader among Kings defensemen in games played, goals, assists and points.

He played with the Kings in 14 of his 20 NHL seasons (1990-2001, 2006-08), winning the team’s first Norris Trophy in 1998, helping the team advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993 and serving as captain from 1996 to 2001.

He was a seven-time NHL All-Star and won an Olympic gold medal in 2002.

Blake played with the Colorado Avalanche from 2001 to 2006, and with the San Jose Sharks from 2008 to 2010.

His career ended with totals of 240 goals, 537 assists and 1,270 games played.