Goaltender Jonathan Quick, the Los Angeles Kings legend himself, has been acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights just one day after he was originally traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Quick wasn’t happy with the deal to Columbus, leading to his eventual trade to the Golden Knights. The Golden Knights are sending goaltender Michael Hutchinson and a seventh-round pick to Columbus in exchange for Quick.
Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalaien said he had the utmost respect for Quick and wanted to make things right.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles King, Quick was the Kings’ number one goaltender for many years. But as Quick is nearing the end of his career, the Kings have opted to play Phoenix Copley in goal for much of the season so far.
The Vegas Golden Knights entered the year with goalies Logan Thompson and Adin Hill, and most analysts projected that goaltending would be the team’s weakness. But the duo exceeded expectations, and goaltending is now one of the main reasons the Knights are still in first place in the Pacific division.
Logan Thompson remains out due to injury, and the Golden Knights called up Laurent Brossoit as a result. Brossoit lost two crucial games to Chicago and Dallas while Hill missed time with a minor injury himself, but with the addition of Jonathan Quick, Vegas finds themselves with a reliable veteran goaltender going into the playoffs once again.
Quick is in the final year of the 10-year, $58 million contract he signed with the Kings in 2012, and he carries a $5.8 million cap hit, which the Blue Jackets are retaining 50% of. He will be a free agent on July 1.
The trade ends 16 years for Quick with the Kings, during which he won two Stanley Cups, two Jennings trophies, and the Conn Smythe in 2012. Quick was also a finalist twice for the Vezina.
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