Jonathan Quick on being traded by Los Angeles Kings: ‘It came as a shock’

Goaltender Jonathan Quick didn’t have a no-trade clause and didn’t have a say on where he ended up if the Los Angeles Kings decided to move him in the final year of his contract.

So the two-time Stanley Cup winner headed from a team in a Western Conference playoff position to the 32nd-ranked Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade that was announced Wednesday morning. But his time with the Blue Jackets didn’t last long. Columbus dealt him Thursday to the contending Vegas Golden Knights, a Pacific Division rival of the Kings.

“It came as a shock when I got the phone call (from the Kings),” Quick said Friday after his first Golden Knights practice. “It is what it is, man. You got to move on. They’re moving on. I’ve got to move on. I’m looking forward to this group here (in Vegas).”

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Quick, 37, won Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 and was playoff MVP in 2012. He’s the Kings’ all-time winner in victories (370) and won the William Jennings Trophy (lowest team goals-against average) in 2013-14 and 2017-18. But he has struggled this season, with a 3.50 goals-against average and .876 save percentage. His career numbers are 2.46, .911.

made 85 saves during a five-overtime loss to the Lightning in 2020. Los Angeles also wanted to boost its defense, and the steady Gavrikov will help.generational talent Connor Bedard the prize. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said he would try to do the right thing for Quick, and now the goalie gets to finish out his contract on a contender. Blue Jackets goalies Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov are signed long-term so they’ll be the pair going forward next season. Hutchinson is a pending UFA. The Blue Jackets, in another trade on Thursday, acquired minor league goalie Jon Gillies from the Coyotes and sent injured Jakub Voracek’s $8.25 million cap hit to Arizona to clear out cap space.

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