After spending 16 years with the Los Angeles Kings, goalie Jonathan Quick has been traded twice in the span of 48 hours.
The Vegas Golden Knights are the beneficiaries this time around, as they have acquired Quick from the Columbus Blue Jackets for goaltender Michael Hutchinson and a 2025 seventh-round pick.
Quick was originally traded from LA to Columbus on Tuesday (Feb. 28) for goalie Joonas Korpisalo and defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov, and it was reported that he was unhappy with the trade after spending his entire career in Los Angeles and winning two Stanley Cups with the franchise. He stayed in LA after the trade while Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen assessed the market for another suitor willing to take Quick on before the March 3 trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Kristen Shilton. Vegas ended up being a fit, and Quick was sent to one of the Kings’ most-competitive rivals.
WELL WELL WELL…
We have acquired Jonathan Quick from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Michael Hutchinson and a 2025 seventh-round pick!#VegasBorn | #TheGoldenAge pic.twitter.com/ew53N5rvsr
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 2, 2023
Quick will provide much-needed help for the Golden Knights at a position that has been left thin due to injuries. First it was Logan Thompson — who sustained a lower body injury on Feb. 9 and has not played since — then it was Laurent Brossoit, who also hurt his lower body and was placed on injured reserve on Monday (Feb. 27). They’re also out projected starter Robin Lehner, who was sidelined for the whole season after undergoing hip surgery in August.
The 37-year-old Quick will become an unrestricted free agent after this season, as he is on the final year of a $58 million contract he signed back in 2012. Columbus, who is last in the NHL, will take on half of the goalie’s $5.8 million AAV.
During his 16-year career, Quick became the Kings’ all-time leader in wins (370), shutouts (57) and games played (743) and will undoubtedly get his jersey retired by the franchise. This season, he’s amassed a 11-13-4 record with an .876 save percentage and 3.50 GAA, mixing starts with Pheonix Copley in the net. He joins the Golden Knights in the midst of a playoff run, as they are first in the Pacific and two points ahead of the Kings.
Thank you Jonathan Quick! pic.twitter.com/2ltbissKuY
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 1, 2023
Hutchinson has played in seven games this season for the Henderson Silver Knights, Vegas’ AHL affiliate, going 1-5-1 with a .897 save percentage and 2.74 GAA. In his nine-year NHL career, he has a .905 save percentage with 2.79 GAA in 137 games for four different teams. He signed to a two-way contract with Vegas on July 13, 2022 and backed up Adin Hill in two Golden Knight games this week.
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