The NHL trade deadline just keeps on giving!
The same day longtime Blackhawk Patrick Kane is traded to the Rangers, another single-franchise star has been dealt. This time it’s goaltender Jonathan Quick, who leaves Los Angeles to join the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In the deal, the Blue Jackets send defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to LA. The Kings are also sending a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 third-rounder.
#LAKings have traded Jonathan Quick to #CBJ. He is part of a deal that will send back Joonas Korpisalo.@DailyFaceoff
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 1, 2023
Quick, 37, has spent all 16 years in the NHL with the Kings, leading them to the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. He was an All-Star in 2012, the same year he won the Conn Smythe Trophy and finished second for the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender. He’s undoubtedly the best goalie in Kings history, amassing the most wins (370), shutouts (57), quality starts (389) and games played (743) as well as the best winning percentage among those with over 65 games played (.911) in the franchise.
Gavrikov has picked up three goals, seven assists, 89 blocked shots and 14 giveaways in 52 games with Columbus this season. A career Blue Jacket, he’s scheduled to be a free agent after this season and carries a $2.8 million cap hit.
Korpisalo, also a career Blue Jacket for eight seasons, is having one of his best years since he was a rookie, going 11-11-3 with a .911 save percentage in 28 games. He is also scheduled to be a free agent after signing a one-year deal this past offseason.
2x Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Quick leaves #GoKingsGo as the club’s all time regular season leader in following categories:
Games: 743
Wins: 370
Shutouts: 57Next closet goalie in LAK history is Rogie Vachon:
GP: 389
Wins: 171
Shutouts: 32@SNstats pic.twitter.com/p7jQ213vWP— Joey Kenward (@kenwardskorner) March 1, 2023
This season, Quick has been anything but his Hall-of-Fame form, going 11-13-4 with a .876 save percentage over 31 contests. Columbus, last place in the entire NHL, will take on Quick in the final season of his 10-year, $58 million contract while the Kings get a 220-pound lefty defenceman and help at goalie, where they rank among the worst in the league despite being tied for first place in the Pacific.
It’s a stunning move for Los Angeles, who were expected to let the longtime King retire as a member of the franchise. Riding on the plane back home from a road win in Winnipeg on Tuesday night, there were reportedly tears as Quick said his rounds of goodbyes.
To say Jonathan Quick is unhappy with the trade, I'm told, is "an understatement."
The entire #LAKings team was a bit down after the game, a win, and you could understandably see it in Anze Kopitar's face after a 4-goal night.
Tough deal, Kings trading a franchise legend.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 1, 2023
According to OptaStats, the NHL becomes the first of the four major leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL) to have two players who each played 15 or more seasons with the same team be traded away by that team during the same season. It happened to Kane and Quick on Tuesday.
What do you think of this swap from the Blue Jackets and the Kings? Let us know by leaving a reaction at the bottom of this post or by tweeting us @celebsecrets.
