Blake’s Four-Year Kings’ Contract Believed Worth About $10 Million

The Kings view defenseman Rob Blake as a future Norris Trophy winner, and are paying him accordingly with a new contract worth about $10 million, according to sources. It averages about $2.5 million a season, but about one-third of the payments are deferred.

As reported previously, it is a four-year deal--three years plus an option--and is tentative pending NHL approval.

Blake, 24, said he won’t practice until the contract is approved. Last season, Blake scored a career-high 20 goals and 68 points.

“It’s time for me to step up in a leadership role with some of the younger guys,” said Blake, who earned $700,000 last season. “When you’ve been here five years, you’re not a rookie anymore. We’ve always had great leaders here--Wayne (Gretzky), Marty (McSorley), Larry Robinson and Paul Coffey.”

The league’s two highest-paid defensemen are New Jersey’s Scott Stevens and St. Louis’ Al MacInnis. This season, Stevens will make a base salary of $2.8 million, plus a $3 million signing bonus. MacInnis will get a total of $3.5 million, including a $500,000 signing bonus.