Jonathan Quick has been a mainstay with the Los Angeles Kings since they made him a third-round pick in the 2005 NHL Draft.
Quick, 37, was Los Angeles’ primary goalie from 2008 to earlier this season when Pheonix Copley took over for him in front of the net for the Stanley Cup contenders.
Now mired in a race with the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot out west, Los Angeles has shockingly decided to trade the two-time Stanley Cup champion and former Conn Smythe Award winner.
According to ESPN’s Ryan Clark, Jonathan Quick has been dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a blockbuster three-player trade that also has two draft picks heading to the Blue Jackets.
The report indicates that Los Angeles is sending its first- and third-round selections in 2023 as well as Quick to Columbus. In return, the Kings acquire defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and fellow goalie Joonas Korpisalo.
Quick had struggled to an extent this season in Los Angeles, yielding what would be a career-high 3.50 goals per game while boasting an .876 save percentage. As recently as last season, he was playing at a high level for the Kings (2.59 GAA, .910 save percentage). But fell off the map before Copley took over netminding duties.
Jonathan Quick will presumably back up Elvis Merzlikins in Columbus with the team boasting the worst record in the Eastern Conference. For the Blue Jackets, this deal was all about acquiring two important draft picks. The organization is going nowhere fast. Picking up those selections while taking on an expiring contract made sense.
From the Kings’ perspective, they add a talented defender in the 27-year-old Vladislav Gavrikov to help for the stretch run. Los Angeles currently finds itself at 34-20-8 and second behind the Knights in the Western Conference. Though, the two are tied with 76 points.
Korpisalo, 28, will back up Copley moving forward on the season and into the playoffs.
As for Jonathan Quick, he finishes his Kings career with the third-most wins among goalies in the history of the NHL. One day after the Chicago Blackhawks dealt a franchise legend in Patrick Kane, another all-time great around the hockey world will be calling another city home.
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