Jonathan Quick is on the move again, back to the Pacific Division to solve the Vegas Golden Knights’ latest goaltending quandary.
Vegas acquired Quick from Columbus on Thursday, less than 36 hours after the Los Angeles Kings traded the two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender and 2014 playoff MVP to the Blue Jackets.
After losing Logan Thompson to an injury, the Golden Knights sent a 2025 seventh-round pick and journeyman netminder Michael Hutchinson to complete the deal with Columbus, which retained half of Quick’s salary. General Manager Kelly McCrimmon doesn’t expect injuries to Thompson or Laurent Brossoit to be long term, but inquired and make this trade to have a safety net in the 37-year-old Quick.
“(Quick has) He’s had a tougher year and needs a change,” McCrimmon said at a news conference in Henderson, Nevada. “We’re all about what lies ahead. … I think he’s going to come in and give us really good goaltending.”
Quick getting dealt again leaves Philadelphia winger James van Riemsdyk and Anaheim defenseman John Klingberg as the top players left to be traded before the 3 p.m. Friday deadline.
Already 81 players – including Quick twice and counting the contracts of Shea Weber and Jakub Voracek – and 55 draft picks have been traded since the All-Star break, leaving slim pickings for what’s usually a frantic final day.
• Another playoff-bound team in the Western Conference upgraded at forward, with Edmonton getting Nick Bjugstad from Arizona. The Coyotes got a 2023 third-round pick and prospect Michael Kesselring for Bjugstad and minor-leaguer Cam Dineen.
• Arizona could also part with any number of pending free agents and players signed beyond this season after acquiring Jakub Voracek’s contract from the Blue Jackets along with a 2023 sixth-round pick for minor-league goalie Jon Gillies, from South Portland.
The Coyotes can use the $8.25 million cap hit through next season for Voracek – whose career is likely over because of concussions – to avoid dipping below the salary floor, while Columbus gets some financial flexibility.
BLUES: St. Louis re-signed Sammy Blais to a $1 million, one-year extension.
The Blues reacquired Blais in the trade that sent Vladimir Tarasenko to the Rangers.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
SENATORS 5, RANGERS 3: Claude Giroux broke a tie early in the third period, former Ranger Derick Brassard scored twice and visiting Ottawa spoiled Patrick Kane’s debut with New York.
PENGUINS 5, LIGHTNING 4: Jason Zucker scored his second goal of the game 2:13 into overtime, and Pittsburgh won at home, completing a three-game season sweep of Tampa Bay.
Zucker was wide-open in the slot and one-timed a shot past Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Penguins moved into the first wild card playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, a point ahead of the New York Islanders.
KRAKEN 5, RED WINGS 4: Oliver Bjorkstrand scored on a power play with 1:27 left in overtime, lifting Seattle to a win at Detroit.
PREDATORS 2, PANTHERS 1: Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves and Nashville put a dent in Florida’s playoff hopes with a win at Sunrise, Florida.
Matt Duchene and John Leonard scored for Nashville.
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.