Rob Blake Will Retire After Playoffs

After 19 seasons, captain Rob Blake will hang up his skates.  Well known for his heavy hip checks and hard-nosed defensive play the 40-year-old defenseman regressed offensively after an excellent premier season with the Sharks.  With Blake no longer logging top minutes for his team, expect one of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jason Demers to take his role on the powerplay.  His 3.5 million cap hit can certainly be used to re-sign Evgeny Nabokov, Joe Pavelski, Devin Setoguchi and Patrick Marleau.

This summer will mark a turning point in this Sharks team as they decide exactly who they need to keep.  These decisions will determine their fate as a perennial powerhouse.