NHL Veteran Rob Blake Discusses Crosby, Ovechkin — And Trading Cards

NHL Veteran Rob Blake Discusses Crosby, Ovechkin — And Trading Cards by Tracy Hackler

September 4, 2009, 12:55 pm
Filed under: Beckett Media, In The Game, just for fun, NHL, Upper Deck | Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Autographs, Beckett.com, Colorado Avalanche, hockey cards, In The Game, Los Angeles Kings, memorabilia cards, NHL, Rob Blake, San Jose Sharks, Sidney Crosby, Upper Deck

Judging by the brevity of the responses you’re about to peruse, it’s a sure bet that stalwart 20-year NHL veteran Rob Blake won’t win any awards for being gregarious.

Luckily the soft-spoken, seven-time All-Star always has let his actions do most of the talking.

The venerable defenseman is about to enter his second season with the San Jose Sharks following 19 solid years in Los Angeles and Colorado that included a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2001 and the 1998 James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.

Blake also happens to be the favorite player of frequent Beckett contributor and ardent collector Barrie Grice, who no doubt was beside himself while doing this exclusive interview during which he deftly sashays from on-ice queries to a few hobby hard-hitters.

How big a fan of Blake is Grice? Well, all you need to know is that every card used in this story hails from the Grice personal collection.

Beckett Media: You currently play for what was a long time-rival of your former team, the Los Angeles Kings. Many people see the Sharks as the team to beat in the Western Conference in 2009-10. Are there any similarities between this team and the other teams you went to the Cup Finals with (Los Angeles in 1993, Colorado in 2001)?
Rob Blake: The similarities between this team and the other top teams are
the depth at all positions and also the commitment from the management
to try and win the Cup.

You had a standout year in 2008-09, especially after people believed you were on the downside of your career. Do you attribute that to the system you are in with San Jose or is it better health?
Playing on a good team definitely helps. It protects minutes played
and a lot of the time we play in the other team’s end.

Pick one for your team, Crosby or Ovechkin? 
Either. They are both great players.

You’ve played with a lot of outstanding young players in the past few years, guys like Anze Kopitar, Jack Johnson, Devon Setoguchi, Joe Pavelski. Is this the new wave of the NHL, guys 25 and under becoming franchise players?
They are starting to build teams around younger guys due to the
salary cap. If they are franchise-type players, management would like to
lock them up contractually for as long as possible.

After appearing in the “Love Guru,” are you planning to do any more acting in the near future or down the road in retirement? Or is that one and done?
I think “The Love Guru” will be the only acting I do, if you can call it that.

You have spent a large portion of your career in Hollywood. I know you’re a humble guy but has this afforded you the opportunity to meet a favorite celebrity/actor or do something you may not have had the chance to do otherwise?
Jimmy [James] Cann, he trains with us in the summer.

Sports collectibles and hockey cards have become immensely popular in the past 20 years. Your first hockey cards were issued back in 1990-91. Have you paid attention to the evolution of trading cards since then?
Each year most of the card companies send us each our own cards. So
for the most part I have been able to see the development and popularity of the card companies over the years.

Have you seen any cards that made you take a second look or that you thought were very creative or interesting?
I really liked the cards a few years ago that had a picture of me
when I was a kid beside a picture now (2003-04 Pacific Atomic McDonalds Hockey Roots).

Do you have a favorite item or piece you have kept from your career?
I have kept a few sticks from games of significance.

Do you collect any memorabilia or cards for yourself?
No, I don’t collect anything like that.

Signing autographs for fans, how do you feel about it?
It’s just part of being a professional hockey player. I don’t mind doing it.

Do you prefer signing autographs directly on the card or signing the little stickers?
I really do not have a preference signing either.

How do you feel about the companies cutting up your jerseys or your memorabilia and placing them on cards?
I have no problem with it, it’s part of the business.

Do you feel the companies should be accountable for putting the correct items on the cards they are producing, especially with your name attached to it? For instance, putting a Kings jersey piece on a San Jose card picturing you playing for the Colorado Avalanche.
Yes, I feel they should be doing this correctly so everything matches.

Kids are a big part of the future of the sport of hockey and the collecting hobby that goes with it. Do your kids or family members keep your cards at all?
My son has some collected some cards over the years.

Final trading card question: What few things, if anything, would you like to see on a hockey card depicting yourself? Would you like manufacturers to incorporate a picture of you doing your hobby of surfing? Or would you like a card paired with a hockey hero, former teammates, etc.?
I had a card with myself and my idol, Larry Robinson; that was pretty cool (1991-92 Pinnacle The Idols Rob Blake & Larry Robinson).

— Barrie Grice

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