NHL Today: Rangers Extend Quick; Trade Deadline Chatter

Good morning, my name is Andrew Fantucchio. It’s Monday, March 4, and here’s what’s happening around the NHL today.

Rangers Extend Jonathan Quick:

The New York Rangers and goaltender Jonathan Quick agreed to a one-year contract extension worth $1.275 million.

It was a bit of a surprise and somewhat of a head-scratcher when the Blue Shirts signed Quick as a free agent in the offseason. Fast forward nine months later, and the move looks like a stroke of genius by Rangers general manager Chris Drury.

While former Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin has been shakey, Quick has balanced things out for the Rangers.

In 20 starts, Quick owns a record of 13-5-2 with a 2.45 GAA and a .916 save percentage, earning himself another year on Broadway.

Devils Making Markstrom Top Priority:

While the situation in net is set for the Rangers, it’s anything but for the New Jersey Devils.

The crease has been a revolving door of mediocrity in Jersey this season and is largely to blame for the team’s underwhelming record thus far.

With the NHL trade deadline this Friday, reports are saying it’s a priority of the Devils to acquire goalie Jakob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames.

New Jersey and Markstrom have been linked together for weeks, and a trade between the Devils and Flames nearly materialized last month.

Now that Markstrom’s relationship with Calgary is beginning to sour, a deal could be done at any moment.

Penguins Know What They Want For Guentzel:

Jake Guentzel of the Pittsburgh Penguins is projected to be one of the hottest names around the NHL this deadline season.

Whether or not Pittsburgh actually pulls the trigger on a trade remains to be seen. But one thing that is for sure is the Penguins want prospects in return, as they aim to develop youth around their core of veteran players.