• Rob Blake is out as GM of the LA Kings after failing to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs in five appearances during his eight-year tenure.
• Blake's key acquisitions, including Pierre-Luc Dubois, failed to produce the desired results, increasing pressure on him to deliver a Stanley Cup contender.
• The Kings' President Luc Robitaille thanked Blake for his contributions, acknowledging his role in elevating the team to its current status.

Rob Blake's tenure as the Los Angeles Kings' General Manager has come to an end after eight seasons, marked by consistent playoff appearances but no series wins. The decision was a mutual agreement between Blake and the team. The catalyst for this change was the Kings' repeated first-round playoff exits, including their recent loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The team will now begin a search for a new GM to lead the franchise forward. The departure raises questions about the future direction of the team and the status of coach Jim Hiller.

• What: The Los Angeles Kings and General Manager Rob Blake have mutually agreed to part ways after the team's fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit.
• Who: Key individuals involved are Rob Blake, Luc Robitaille (Kings team president), Anze Kopitar (Kings captain), and Jim Hiller (Kings coach). Other players mentioned include Quinton Byfield, Drew Doughty, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
• When: The announcement was made on May 5, 2025, following the Kings' Game 6 elimination in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Blake served as GM for eight seasons, beginning in April 2017.
• Where: The events occurred in Los Angeles, California, where the Kings are based.

Rob Blake's departure signals a significant turning point for the Los Angeles Kings. While Blake successfully guided the team to several playoff appearances, his inability to secure a single series win ultimately led to his dismissal. His tenure was marked by both successes, such as drafting Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke, and failures, most notably the acquisition and subsequent trade of Pierre-Luc Dubois. The Kings now face the challenge of finding a new GM who can build upon the existing foundation and lead the team to greater success. The future of coach Jim Hiller is also uncertain, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

"On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Rob for his dedication to the LA Kings and the passion he brought to his role...Rob deserves a great deal of credit and respect for elevating us to where we are today."

"I think he did a good job of building this team...It [stinks] to see him leave, for sure, and it's going to be, at least for a little bit next year, it's going to be weird not having him around."

"This one hurt big time. In past years, I’m not going to say that we could maybe win, but this year, truly, I felt like we were going to win this series."

The Los Angeles Kings' parting with Rob Blake signals a pivotal moment, driven by persistent playoff struggles despite regular-season achievements. The organization now faces uncertainty regarding its leadership and coaching staff, setting the stage for a potentially transformative offseason. Blake's inability to guide the team past the first round of the playoffs in five attempts, including four consecutive losses to the Edmonton Oilers, ultimately cost him his job. Despite Blake's efforts in drafting promising players and making impactful trades, the Kings failed to translate regular-season success into a deep playoff run. The search for a new general manager begins immediately, with potential candidates including Marc Bergevin, Mathieu Darche and others. The new GM will inherit a talented roster but must address key issues such as the lack of a top-tier center and the need for a more dynamic, offensive system to compete with elite teams like the Oilers. The future of coach Jim Hiller is also uncertain, adding another layer of complexity to the Kings' offseason. The next GM will likely have input on the Kings' head coaching decision. This transition represents a critical opportunity for the Kings to re-evaluate their direction and construct a team capable of achieving sustainable playoff success.