Even in Dispute, ‘C’ Suits Blake and Taylor

With enough distractions around the Kings and only eight days left until the regular season opener at Washington, Rob Blake decided to remove one Tuesday night.

Before the Kings’ 2-0 victory over Phoenix at Staples Center, Blake took up Coach Andy Murray’s offer to have the “C” denoting his captaincy sewed back on his sweater.

He wore the “C” for the game, with Luc Robitaille and Kelly Buchberger wearing the “A” as alternate captains.

Blake had removed the letter after management’s ultimatum to sign a three-year, $22.5-million contract extension or risk being traded.

“We view Rob as captain of our team,” said King Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Taylor, who added that there had been no additional talks between the team and Blake’s agent, Ron Salcer, since the ultimatum two weeks ago.

“It’s nice to see him make this decision, but I don’t think his putting on the ‘C’ or taking the ‘C’ off has any effect on the negotiations.”

Blake actually never relinquished the job, only the “C.”

“He is our captain whether he wears the ‘C’ or not,” center Bryan Smolinski said when Blake revealed his reasons for shedding the letter five days ago.

“I don’t think he’s going anywhere. When you come down to it, I think they’ll sign him, whether it’s now or in February.”

Blake had removed the “C” from his sweater after the Kings’ ultimatum, saying, “When you’re told you might not be around for the whole season, I thought it might be a distraction.”

Instead, public knowledge of the move has been a distraction, adding to that of the team’s inability to sign its No. 1 center, Jozef Stumpel.

Asked about whether negotiations had reopened with Stumpel, Taylor said, “No comment.”

Stumpel rejected a take-it-or-leave-it offer for a three-year contract on Friday.

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Lubomir Visnovsky and Craig Johnson had goals for the Kings before an announced 9,816. Visnovsky’s came on a second-period power play.

Jamie Storr turned in the shutout, making 19 saves.

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The Kings have approached the agent for Marko Tuomainen, who came to camp on a tryout basis, about a contract for his client.

Tuomainen, who was scratched Tuesday night after a slash in Saturday’s exhibition win over San Jose in Bakersfield opened a gash in his upper lip that required 10 stitches.