Jonathan Quick has earned a place in Rangers fans' hearts

Jonathan Quick played the final game of his surefire Hall of Fame career on Monday, recording a 3-2 loss against the Florida Panthers.

It was a fitting way for the 40-year-old to bow out, fighting manfully for a moribund New York Rangers side who have looked strangely positive since the Olympic break. Quick made a series of typical scrambling saves, stretching those elastic groins of his for one last time before surrendering a late marker.

Quick’s career resurgence

Quick’s 2023 season was, frankly, concerning. He started the season with the Los Angeles Kings, posting lowly numbers of 3.50 goals-against average (GAA) and an 87.6 save percentage (SV%). He finished the season with Las Vegas, winning his third Stanley Cup, though as the third-string goalie, he didn’t see a second of playoff ice time.

Quick’s first season as a Ranger saw the hockey world witness a resurrection. In his first full season as a reserve, Quick parlayed a lesser workload into a stunning campaign, going 18-6-2 with a 2.62 GAA and 91.1 SV%, as Quick emerged as the best backup goalie in the NHL and, with Igor Shesterkin, formed the best 1-2 combination in the league.

As the Rangers form as fallen off a cliff these past two seasons, Quick’s numbers have of course dipped in unison. That said, the only time he has genuinely looked old is a stretch this season where he had to step in as the starter for the injured Shesterkin.

Given his violent style of play (an aside, this writer loves Quick’s unorthodox style, a throwback to the Curtis Josephs and Dominic Haseks of the world), it’s remarkable that Quick has remained as good as he is for as long as he has. Frankly, he still looks like he could play for at least another season.

That said, at age 40, Quick feels that his time has come.

Garand is ready to step up

A considerable factor in Quick’s retirement must be the emergence of Dylan Garand. The 24-year-old has been stellar for the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL, regularly saving the bacon of a less than elite group over the course of five seasons, the past two as the full-time starter.

In two NHL games this season, the 6-foot-3 Garand has posted a win and a loss with a 1.44 GAA and 95.4 SV%, looking confident, aggressive and flashing a quick glove hand. He is ready to step in as Shesterkin’s full time backup.

Quick’s mentorship will have played no small part in that. As he did with Adin Hill in Las Vegas, Quick is more than happy to pass on his years of experience to younger netminders. He also leads a locker room, where his calm demeanour — in direct contrast to his playing style — has proven invaluable. Away from the ice, Quick is a natural leader, even letting then-rookie Matt Rempe live with him and his family for a period.

Quick won hearts at MSG

The numbers speak for themselves:

• 410 career wins (most by an American)
• Dual Jennings Trophy winner
• Dual Olympian
• 2012 Conn Smythe winner
• 2x All-Star appearances
• 3x Stanley Cup winner

In New York, it’s about more than the numbers for Quick.

The boyhood Rangers fan got to live out every youngster’s dream, playing for the team whose sweater he wore as a child. That in itself would be enough.

But Quick gave the Rangers some superb play between the pipes for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, and leadership for a team transitioning into a youth movement.

Quick will go into the Hall of Fame as a King, but he retires a Ranger. Number 32 has won a place in the hearts and minds of the Blueshirt faithful.