It’s impossible to build a Stanley Cup champion without a great general manager (GM) to lead the front office. They are the architects, the ones with a plan and a vision for how the team should draft well, develop and make superb free agency and trade deadline additions, and everything in between.
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Some NHL GMs get a lot of credit for what they’ve built. Some have received more credit than they deserve. The term overrated is subjective, but a handful of GMs deserve that tag as they aren’t doing as well as perceived to be in the public eye. So, here’s a look at the five most overrated in the league.
5. Rob Blake
Rob Blake isn’t necessarily considered one of the best GMs in the league, but rather that he’s done a respectable job with the Los Angeles Kings, turning them into a competitive team. But why isn’t he in the hot seat, or why isn’t he under more pressure, considering how he’s operated, especially considering his recent moves?
The Kevin Fiala trade wasn’t bad. It gave the Kings an elite winger to turn a young and promising roster into a contender. But what Blake gave up in the deal stings, including a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, which the Minnesota Wild used on Liam Ohgrem, who could be a key part of their forward unit starting next season. The other piece was Brock Faber, who finished second in the Calder Trophy voting and made his mark as one of the best defensemen in the league this season. Fiala scored 52 goals and 93 assists in two seasons with the Kings, so the deal can be seen as a win-win. The next one, not so much.
One offseason after trading for Fiala, Blake took a big swing and missed, acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets and then signing him to an eight-year contract. That one deal could set the Kings back for years, especially since they gave up Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iaffalo, and Rasmus Kupari to get him. After only one season with the Kings, Blake had to cut his losses and deal Dubois to the Washington Capitals.
Blake doesn’t appear to have a short leash, but if the Kings struggle or are eliminated in the first round of the playoffs again (inevitably by the Edmonton Oilers), he might be replaced next offseason. If he is, it will be easy to look back at his tenure and say what if. The Kings had a great rebuild going, with many prospects making their way onto the NHL roster. Imagine how much better the team would…
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