Kings ask Blake to waive no-trade clause

By Lisa Dillman

Feb. 26, 2008 12 AM PT

From Times Staff and Wire Reports

The Kings, as expected, asked over the weekend if Rob Blake would waive his no-trade clause, which team President and General Manager Dean Lombardi said he would only do if he received a legitimate offer.

Blake, 38, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Blake responded by saying he would only consider it if the Kings could get enough help in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche, according to several sources close to the player. He apparently would not waive the clause for the likes of Detroit or San Jose, both previously mentioned in trade rumors.

Lombardi said on Monday night that he “cannot comment,” and Blake did not return phone calls. Blake, on Feb. 17, was emphatic in an interview saying he wished to stay in Los Angeles and did not want to waive his no-trade clause.

“He’s given them an out, as a courtesy to them, which he doesn’t want to do,” one source said. “They can move him to Colorado or keep him. It’s not over yet. . . . The ball is in [their] court.”

A deal is certainly not a sure thing in what is a fluid situation. Whether the Avalanche can put together the right offer is one issue, and Blake’s injury, a broken left ankle, has created some uncertainty. He hasn’t played since Jan. 31 but is expected to return to action next week.

-- Lisa Dillman

The Avalanche and Peter Forsberg have agreed on a deal to bring the NHL’s 2003 most valuable player back to Colorado through the end of the season.

Forsberg will earn about $1.1 million prorated from a one-year, $5-million deal, since there are about six weeks left in the regular season.

Forsberg won two Stanley Cups in his nine seasons with the Avalanche, but foot and ankle injuries have plagued him in recent years.

The Philadelphia Flyers bolstered their banged-up lineup by acquiring high-scoring forward Vaclav Prospal in a trade with Tampa Bay.

In exchange, the Flyers dealt the Lightning minor-league defenseman Alexandre Picard and a conditional pick in the 2009 draft. Philadelphia has been depleted by injuries after losing Mike Richards, who tore a hamstring last weekend. They’re also minus star forward Simon Gagne (concussion) and defenseman Derian Hatcher (knee).

Darren McCarty has returned to the Detroit Red Wings, signing a one-year contract with the team four years after he left Detroit for Calgary.