Blue Jackets trade former Conn Smythe winner to Golden Knights

Quick is in the last year of a 10-year deal worth $5.8 million per season.

The 37-year-old was acquired by Columbus late Tuesday night in a deal that sent Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov to the Los Angeles Kings.

He has played his entire career with L.A. to this point, making his first starts back in 2007-08 after the Kings drafted him 72nd overall in 2005. Quick was the backbone of the Kings’ two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014, winning the Conn Smythe in 2012 after taking the team far beyond expectations. That season, Quick was a Vezina Trophy finalist and led the league with 10 shutouts, marking the most successful season of his career. He once again finished as a Vezina finalist in 2016 and was a two-time Jennings Trophy winner, too.

Quick’s performance has dipped over the years, as to be expected from a goalie of his age. Quick has an 11-13-4 record with a shutout and a .876 save percentage in a year where goaltending has been a big problem for the Kings.

Last year, he managed to breathe some new life into his career, taking the Kings to Game 7 of their first-round series and breaking the 20-win barrier for the first time since 2017-18. Quick is also one of the last goalies to play over 70 games in a season, playing in 72 in 2009-10 and 2014-15. Among other achievements, Quick won silver with USA at the 2010 Olympics as a third goalie and was one of the better netminders at the 2014 tournament.

Starting goaltender Logan Thompson is currently out with a lower-body injury. Laurent Brossoit is also out with the same issue, leaving the Golden Knights with Adin Hill and Michael Hutchinson for the time being. Quick’s inclusion – even during a tough season – can be seen as a solid improvement heading into the postseason.

Vegas currently sits tied for first in the Pacific Division with 78 points with a game in hand over the Kings. If you’re a fan of chaos, there’s a chance the two clubs could meet in the first round.