Blake has had a good career -- 486 points in 871 NHL games, including that lightning in a bottle 40-goal season on Long Island in 2006-07. He still has his speed, but his game is in decline. He's coming off 12 points in 45 games with the Ducks in 2012-13 and his contribution at this point -- if he earns another NHL contract -- will come as a third- or fourth-line winger who rolls in spot duty.
Blake managed 16 goals and 16 assists in 76 games during his first full season with the Ducks, but he is clearly on the back end of his career. At age 38, you're better off letting another owner draft him even if the Ducks continue to roll him on a scoring line, as his two-way game has never been particularly strong and he's a liability in the plus/minus category as a result (minus-5 last season).
Blake's production numbers after signing with Toronto were not spectacular as he scored a point about every other game. When the Leafs traded him to the Ducks, he didn't end with a flourish, earning only 15 points in 26 games. With the addition of Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne for 2010-11, Blake has the potential to return to the same form he had with the Islanders, when he averaged 57 points per game in his four seasons with that franchise.
Here’s the thing. Blake’s rebound season last year came as a direct result of the chemistry he found with Dominic Moore. When Moore left, so did Blake’s output. So unless the Buds decide to bring Moore back, we think Blake could struggle like he did in 2007-08. And that makes this 36-year-old a huge fantasy risk in all formats, including keeper leagues.
Blake gets a mulligan for last season. He played with the weight of a leukemia diagnosis around his neck. He took a load of shots – his 332 were fifth highest in the NHL – but they were all about bad angles and bad choices. Last year’s 15 goals and 52 points might be difficult for him to replicate this time around. He needs a strong center and he won’t have one on the Leafs’ second line.
Blake gets a mulligan for last season. He played with the weight of a leukemia diagnosis around his neck. He took a load of shots – his 332 were fifth highest in the NHL – but they were all about bad angles and bad choices. Last year’s 15 goals and 52 points might be difficult for him to replicate this time around. He needs a strong center and he won’t have one on the Leafs’ second line.
Blake posted career highs in goals (28) and points (57) in 05-06. He has scored 45 or more points in each of the last three seasons. Expect another season in that range in 2006-07.
Blake has scored 47 goals for the Isles in the last two NHL seasons. He's a versatile player with good speed, but his production will hinge on how he is utilized by the Islanders. If he's given the role he was the last two seasons, he should hit the 20 goal mark again.
