A player doesn't become a bad guy by refusing to waive a no-trade clause (Sun)

[rinkrat]

So, the Los Angeles Kings have a horrible season and it is Rob Blake's responsibility to help fix it by waiving goodbye to his family and his no-trade clause and moving on?

Or, in the case of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it is up to Mats Sundin to live in a suitcase for the next 31/2 months because he owes it to the franchise?

Like neither guy has done anything for his team on the ice?

winnipegsun.com - Hockey - A player doesn't become a bad guy by refusing to waive a no-trade clause ... Big deals don't guarantee a Cup

[Dr. Naysay]

Agree %100 with the sentiment in that article.

I hope Sundin and Blake do NOT waive their No Trade rights.

[taz42]

Oh but Dr. These guys are, according to fans, supposed to live their lives like the fans want them to. I don't blame any player for wanting to stay where they are. Wonder how many people would just love to uproot their families to unfamiliar places, knowing it's just probably for a short time and that they will once again, have to do it in a matter of months.

[USCKingsFan31]

Sundin and Blake are a tad different in my opinion...

While they both are assets on very bad teams, one of them has stuck by his team through thick and thin (mostly thick) for the last 13 years and has become the face of the franchise.

The other could have been one of the faces of this franchise but instead chose to be greedy and seek out an extra couple of million, all the while spitting on the faces of all the fans that had grown to love him. He spent 5 years elsewhere, only to then return and pretend like nothing ever happened and he is the good guy.

I'm not as adamant as some here are saying TRADE HIM **** YOU BLAKE or anything like that, but comparing him to Mats Sundin in my mind is ridiculous

[Hipcheck]

My Opinion is Blake will be back with the Kings next season-why not help the team out by acquiring assets by trading him that may help the team next season when he's back with the Kings?

A)He gets to make a run at the Cup
B)He helps the team improve in the next season or two-seasons in which he will most likely be playing as a Kings.

Whats the downside?

Its like living in a condo with your family and having a relative say "if you can come to my place for 2 months max and help out I will pay of your condos mortgage or maybe even buy you a new house house altogether." Who wouldnt want that?

[UnderTheGUN]

How can you blame the player for having an agent with good negotiating skills? If you want to blame somebody, blame the GM that gave away his teams rights to move the player.

[Unruely35]

Originally Posted by Hipcheck

My Opinion is Blake will be back with the Kings next season-why not help the team out by acquiring assets by trading him that may help the team next season when he's back with the Kings?

A)He gets to make a run at the Cup
B)He helps the team improve in the next season or two-seasons in which he will most likely be playing as a Kings.

Fatal flaw with this argument, Hip.

No one has asked Blake to move.

The Armchair Brigade has been running all over this server crying about what Blake should do even though it flies in the face of fact. The guy is far from my favorite and Im truly indifferent to whether he stays or goes, but saying that hes a bitch or not a team player because he's (mythically) refusing or (if you wanna stretch further) not 'offering' to wave his NTC is ridiculous.