Livescore
Jonathan Quick’s stop in Columbus was … quick.
A day after the Blue Jackets acquired the goaltender from the Kings, the team flipped Quick to the Golden Knights, giving the veteran a chance to play for a contender.
Quick, 37, is in the midst of a down year. His 3.50 GAA is the worst mark of his career, as his .876 save percentage. Quick lost the starting job with the Kings to journeyman Pheonix Copley in December, and the Kings felt they needed to upgrade at the position in order to make a postseason run.
The Golden Knights have been derailed with injuries in the crease all year. Robin Lehner hasn’t played all year after offseason surgery. Rookie Logan Thompson hasn’t skated since his leg injury in early February. Laurent Broissoit has only played three games, leaving Adin Hill, who was acquired midseason, currently as the team’s starter.
MORE: Why did the Kings trade Jonathan Quick?
Jonathan Quick trade details
- Golden Knights receive: G Jonathan Quick
- Blue Jackets receive: G Michael Hutchinson, 2025 7th-round pick
The Blue Jackets were reportedly shopping Quick as soon as they acquired him in the trade that sent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and defenseman Joonas Korpisalo to the Kings. The Golden Knights were the team closely tied to those rumors.
There’s no denying Quick isn’t the goalie he once was. The two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2012 Conn Smythe winner has been one of the worst goalies this year, highlighted by his -19.0 goals saved above expected, which ranks 91st out of the 93 goalies that have played this year.
However, it’s slim pickings out there in the goaltending market, and Vegas needed to address the issue in the crease. While Quick isn’t what he once was, the Golden Knights have a better defense than the Kings do, and the club could see improvement in Quick’s numbers.
Jonathan Quick contract details
Quick is in the final year of his 10-year, $58 million contract he signed with the Kings way back in 2012.
The goaltender’s contract has a cap hit of $5.8 million this year. The Blue Jacket are retaining 50% of his salary as a part of the deal.
He is going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Read the full article here
