Sportsnet.ca — After one season in the ‘Centre of the Hockey Universe’, Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake is not sure he wants to endure another.
“It was obviously a frustrating year, the most frustrating year I’ve had in the NHL,” Blake told the Toronto Star on Friday.
Blake played all 82 games for the Maple Leafs this season despite battling a rare form of cancer, and is nominated for the 2008 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. But the former 40 goal scorer understands his five-year, $20 million contract might be one GM Cliff Fletcher would like to get rid of in order to re-build.
“There has to be change. They have to start rebuilding,” Blake said. “It’s a long time from now until the beginning of the year. We’ll see.”
Fletcher applauded Blake’s honesty and ability to speak his mind, but has no plans to buyout the veteran forward.
“We’re not thinking of buying him out, he’s got four years left on his contract and he’s a part of our team,” said Fletcher.
“Now, he’s no different from any other player on the team, if there’s a trade made available to us that would interest us, we’d pursue it.”
Blake received good news regarding his battle with chronic myelogenous leukemia after an April 7 check-up. The doctors told the 35-year-old he was ahead of schedule, and that his daily regimen of one pill a day seemed to be working.
