Veteran goalie Jonathan Quick did not waste time standing in the way of his former team for the Stanley Cup playoff berth run. The 37-year-old goalie was traded by his former team Los Angeles Kings to Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The deal shocked the netminder as he wasn’t made aware of any trade situations.
Furthermore, prior to the trade deadline, the goalie reportedly had spoken to the Kings organization about continuing his career there. He would’ve retired as a King but unfortunately, fate had another plan for him. Fans took to social media, raging about the whole situation and the deal the team made.
Not only did the fans lash out at the Kings, but several players and even analysts called out the Kings for their careless handling of the trade process. Nevertheless, the Blues have now traded the Stanley Cup winner to a much-deserved team as per the report.
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Jonathan Quick joins Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights acquired the veteran goalie from the Blue Jackets in exchange for goalie Michael Hutchinson and a 7th-round draft pick in 2025. As per the contract, the Blue Jackets will retain 50% of Jonathan Quick’s salary which is in its final year. The current last contract carries a cap hit of $5.8 million.
The Vegas Golden Knights are strong contenders for the playoff berth and also the rivals to his former team LA Kings. The Kings would never have guessed their veteran goalie would be standing against them and not as their ally. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen stated earlier that they “would try to do the right thing”.
The right thing as per them was to place the future Hall of Famer on a team that is ready for the Stanley Cup competition. The Knights are more than ecstatic to have a veteran goalie on their side. They completely ignored the slowing fact of why the Kings traded Quick in the first place.
Jonathan Quick’s trade by the Kings to the Blues came as a shock for him after their match against Winnipeg Jets. To make matters worse, he had to travel back with his already former team to LA.
Kekalainen told NHL Network, “We just wanted to do the right thing for a future Hall of Famer, Jonathan Quick”. “He gets to stay close to home, with his family, and gets to play for a team that’s in the playoff picture and is going for the Stanley Cup.”
LA Kings defenceman Drew Doughty talked about the storm Quick will be bringing as their opponent now, “I’m a little scared of the fire he’s probably going to have in his belly if we do play him”. “It’s not going to be easy, but you gotta do what you gotta do.”
Doughty said he misses his best friend, “The last two days it’s affected us a lot. It’s really sad and unexpected. And it sucks seeing one of your best friends of your life leave.” Fans are now anticipating a match between the Kings and Knights soon.
“The last two days it’s affected us a lot. It’s really sad and unexpected. And it sucks seeing one of your best friends of your life leave”. “Just so many emotions”. Doughty commented on Quick’s leave.
“It sucked. That’s the bottom line. Never wanted to see Quickie go. Expected to play with him the rest of my career. I don’t love that he’s gone at all but it’s hockey. It’s business. Sometimes things happen that you’re not going to like.”
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