MONTREAL – With the Rob Blake Situation approaching a climax, two sources have told Slap Shots that the Devils are submitting bids for the fierce, multi-dimensional, elite defenseman, whose acquisition would all but guarantee a Stanley Cup repeat – and domination for years if the 31- year-old were to become more than a rental, but rather the individual to take the torch from Scott Stevens.

We’re told that New Jersey is offering a package that includes a pair of blue-chip blue line prospects,19-year-old, 6-2, 205-pound defenseman David Hale, the team’s first selection (22nd) overall in June’s Entry Draft and 19-year-old, 6-3, 180-pound defenseman Matt DeMarchi, their second-round selection (57th). Ari Ahonen, the 19-year-old Finland native considered the best young European goalending prospect, is also part of the proffer.

The Kings, who have not offered Blake any more than $7.5 million per and seem to have no intention of doing so, will convene a meeting of their hockey department later this week and begin to sort through the offers for the franchise defenseman. Sources throughout the league expect Blake to be dealt by the Feb. 4 All- Star Game.

While Los Angeles is interested in building a new post-Blake foundation and therefore has interest in the Devils’ youngsters, it is believed that the Kings will insist upon the inclusion of Scott Gomez into the package before agreeing to send Blake east to play for his former coach, Larry Robinson.

Lou Lamoriello would of course have to weigh the cost of a multi-month rental against the cost of a multi-year lease. Contrary to what has been reported in other precincts, should he be traded Blake very much intends to go to July 1 and unrestricted free agency. Yes, he would listen to an offer if one were forthcoming from his new team, but would neither solicit nor invite one. Neither he nor agent Ron Salcer has yet asked GM Dave Taylor to discuss contract terms with any team in the sweepstakes, and neither intends to.

If the Devils were to get Blake, how likely is the prospect of Lamoriello offering enough to keep the defensemen from finding out how much Glen Sather would be willing to spend in order to make him Broadway Rob? As likely as Tom Barrasso playing for the Rangers.

In other words, Blake more likely than not would be in New Jersey long enough for a rest stop on the Turnpike – and to carry the Cup at the Exit of Champions. But is that worth three genuine blue-chippers – and Scott Gomez, too?

Is it?

NOW don’t go making this into any more than it is, but we promise it’s true: Joe Sakic, who is only leading the league in scoring in this, the final year of his contract before unrestricted free agency, has told at least one friend in the NHL that, “Joe believes he owes something to New York for getting his salary to where it is.”

The Rangers, of course, signed Sakic to a much-debated three-year, $21M Group II offer sheet in the wake of Mark Messier’s 1997 exile that Colorado matched. Sakic, who is currently earning $7.9M, made $3.1M in 1996-97. So does he owe the Rangers anything?

Well, Scott Stevens always felt indebted to the Blues for signing him out of Washington in 1990 for a then-landmark $5M over four years. He was so indebted that he then allowed St. Louis to sign him (illiegally, as it later turned out) to a four-year, $17.062.5M Group II offer sheet the Devils then matched in 1994.

Sather isn’t about to throw $10M per at every Group III who wants to retire on Broadway. There will never again be a Summer of ’99. But if there is one player whom Sather would trust with the money, it is Sakic. Believe this: Sather will not be outbid for Sakic, if that’s what it comes to.

If it’s money, Sakic will be a Ranger next year.

But maybe it won’t even have to be the money.

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WHILE Steve Ellman works on meeting all of his obligations in order to secure the loan that will allow him to complete his purchase of the Coyotes – the league very much wants this concluded by the All-Star Game – and the Canadiens are on the verge of being sold to an American, there’s business news now out of Ottawa.

Slap Shots has learned from well-placed sources that on at least one ocassion this season, but not in the last month, the NHL advanced money to Senators’ ownership in times of cash-flow problems. Our sources insist that the team’s problems were “temporary and not in any way extraordinary” and were not symptomatic of deeper problems.

Interestingly, New York billionaire Nelson Peltz – we so hate to objectify, but still – is believed extremely interested in, if not purchasing the Senators outright, then becoming a partner of current owner Rod Bryden.

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SOURCES familiar with the situation report that upon assuming control of the Coyotes, Wayne Gretzky will do his best to sign Group II free agent goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin and at the same time look to move Sean Burke, who is on a one-year, $1.3M contract and whose market value has never been higher, to a contender.

It’s believed that the Penguins, who first expressed interest in Burke during training camp before the goaltender signed with the Coyotes, will very much be in the hunt.

Phoenix will move Keith Tkachuk, with the Rangers and Flyers (and perhaps Maple Leafs) the only players at the $8.3M table. Informants insist that Tkachuk remains a fixed target on Sather’s radar screen; others report that Phoenix this week indeed contacted the Maple Leafs to guage their interest in the power winger.

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THE Red Wings, somehow challenging for first place in the West despite the long-term absences of Chris Chelios and Steve Yzerman, despite Chris Osgood’s problems, despite friction between Scotty Bowman and Brendan Shanahan, would love to find a way to get Dominik Hasek. The Sabres have a $9M club option on Hasek for next season, one they are not expected to exercise.

Imagine what the Sabres might be able to get at the deadline for a package of Hasek and unsigned Group II Mike Peca, whose season-long contract dispute will at least have the smallish albeit fierce centerman fresh for the playoffs . . . if he’s in uniform for the playoffs.

Because of his history, because of his value to the franchise, Peca does deserve more than the Sabres are offering in their hardball game. But off his statistics and current value, it’s hard to argue that he deserves to earn more than Jason Arnott, who came in at $2.5M, $2.6M plus attainable bonuses after missing the season’s opening two months. And the Sabres are offering more than that.

TheSenators, who simply don’t have the size or grit to advance through the minefields of the Meadowlands, have problems in nets, too. Ottawa wants to pry Mike Dunham out of Nashville.

The Canucks are going to take their best shot at Khabibulin now that Felix Potvin has crashed and burned in Vancouver, also.

And so where does The Cat fit in exactly among Islander franchise goaltenders Eric Fichaud, Kevin Weekes and Roberto Luongo?

Remain seated and silent, no celebrations allowed, but we’re told that Chicago and Vancouver are dipping their toes into the Valeri Kamensky waters.

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FINALLY, you there, No. 13 in Royal and White; yes, you.

Didn’t you used to be Mats Sundin?