It’s worth remembering that Jonathan Quick wasn’t the guy in his early years in the Kings’ organization.
He was a third-round pick in 2005 out of UMass Amherst, the 72nd player selected in what was otherwise known as the Sidney Crosby draft following a yearlong lockout. But a Kings organization that had struggled to develop goaltenders for much of its history seemed to stake its future on another youngster, Jonathan Bernier, the 11th player picked overall in the 2006 draft.
Bernier was briefly a big-leaguer at the start of the 2007-08 season, playing four games for the Kings before going back to his junior team in Lewiston, Maine. But by the time Bernier got back to L.A. for a brief cameo in the 2009-10 season, Quick was the full-time starter.
And not only wouldn’t Quick surrender the position for more than a decade, we can stipulate that he’s the best goalie in Kings history with 370 career victories and two Stanley Cups. I don’t think Kelly Hrudey or Hall of Famer Rogie Vachon would have much argument.
Rob Blake said as much, in fact, on the Zoom call Wednesday morning a few hours after the trade of Quick to Columbus, for left-handed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and goalie Joonas Korpisalo, was officially announced.
“Jonathan Quick’s the best goalie to ever play in this organization, let alone the league,” the general manager who made the trade said. “And he’s taken this (team), with a handful of players, to the highest level two different times.
“We are so thankful for what he’s been able to do for this organization as a player, as a person, him and his family and his kids. We’re indebted (for) what he’s been able to do for us.”
Shall we elaborate?
Start with those two Cups, in 2012 and 2014. Add a Conn Smythe Trophy as the outstanding performer of the playoffs in 2012, when he was 16-4 with a save percentage of .946 as the Kings ended their fans’ 44 seasons of frustration and finally lifted the Cup on home ice.
Quick…
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