Goaltender Jonathan Quick didn’t have a no-trade clause and didn’t have a say on where he ended up if the Los Angeles Kings decided to move him in the final year of his contract.
So the two-time Stanley Cup winner is heading from a team tied for the Pacific Division lead to the 32nd-ranked Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade that was announced Wednesday morning.
Quick, 37, won Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 and was playoff MVP in 2012. He’s the Kings’ all-time winner in victories (370) and won the Williams Jennings Trophy (lowest team goals-against average) in 2013-14 and 2017-18.
But he has struggled this season, with a 3.50 goals-against average and .876 save percentage. His career numbers are 2.46, .911.
More about the trade:
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What was the trade?
The Blue Jackets dealt goalie Joonas Korpisalo and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to the Kings. Columbus gets Quick, a conditional 2023 first-round pick (it becomes two second-rounders if the Kings miss the playoffs) and a 2024 third-rounder.
Why did the Kings make the trade?
Their goaltending has been an issue. Cal Petersen, who was projected to be the No. 1 goalie, was sent to the American Hockey League. Pheonix Copley emerged as their top goalie. Quick was pulled from his last start. Korpisalo, a pending unrestricted free agent, has better numbers (3.17, .911) and matched Quick with 11 wins. He is 3-5 with a 1.90 goals-against average, .941 save percentage and two shutouts in the playoffs. He made 85 saves during a five-overtime loss to the Lightning in 2020. Los Angeles also wanted to boost its defense. The move saves $1.5 million in cap space, allowing the Kings to possibly make another move before Friday’s deadline.
What did the Kings say about Quick?
They put out the above tweet thanking Quick for his time in Los Angeles.
What does the trade do for the Blue Jackets?
General manager Jarmo Kekalainin told reporters that he has been in touch with Quick and his camp and will try to do the right thing for the goalie. Blue Jackets goalies Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov are signed long-term so they’ll be the pair going forward next season. Quick is a pending UFA and will be a Hall of Famer once he decides to retire.