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How should the Rangers utilize Jonathan Quick?

By Marvin Azrak |
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 13: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates the Stanley Cup victory over the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 13: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates the Stanley Cup victory over the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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How Jonathan Quick’s support role behind star goalie Igor Shesterkin, will propel the New York Rangers to new heights of goaltending excellence.

Growing up as a New York Rangers fan in Milford, Connecticut, Jonathan Quick’s journey has come full circle. After defeating the Rangers in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, the three-time Stanley Cup champion, now 37 years old, finds himself donning the Rangers’ jersey. He let his kids choose the back of his helmet design to celebrate. It reads the signature part of the team’s goal song:”Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!” “It’ll be nice” to hear it as a member of the home team. Then he smiled and said, “It’s been a few years since I enjoyed it.”

On July 1, New York signed Quick, the seasoned goaltender, to a one-year contract. The move sees him stepping in for Jaroslav Halak as the backup to Igor Shesterkin. Quick will make $825,000 in guaranteed money and can earn up to $100,000 in available performance bonuses.

That’s a far cry from the $5.8 million he made annually with the Kings from 2013-2023, but it reflects the goaltender he is today.

During his 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Quick played 753 games, achieving a 2.47 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.

Quick rose to fame in 2007 when he joined the NHL with the Kings. He led Los Angeles to a Stanley Cup victory in the 2011-12 season, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Two years later, he lifted the Cup yet again.

However, in the 2022-23 season, Quick showed signs of regression. His goals-against average of 3.41 and a .882 save percentage were the lowest of his career since his early days with the Kings. It was time to move on, which prompted Los Angeles to make a heartfelt move.

On March 1, Quick was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, only to be flipped to the Vegas Golden Knights the following day. In his first ten games with his new team, he went 5-2-2 with a 3.13 GAA and a save percentage of .901. He later took on the backup role to Adin Hill during Vegas’s Stanley Cup run. It’s clear Quick is still a reliable goaltender, but his play no longer reflects the Hall of Fame-worthy netminder he used to be.

The veteran coming to Broadway as a backup makes sense.

Even though he will play second fiddle to Shesterkin for most of the season, Quick is still an essential component of the Blueshirts’ quest for the Cup both on and off the ice.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 03: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates in warmups prior to the game against the Florida Panthers in Game One of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 03, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 03: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates in warmups prior to the game against the Florida Panthers in Game One of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 03, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Blueshirts started the reigning Vezina trophy winner a career-high 58 times last season. As a result, the extra games harmed Shesterkin’s statistics. It increased his goals-against average and decreased his save percentage.

A pressing question for the upcoming season is determining the optimal number of games for Shesterkin to avoid fatigue and injury. That’s where Jonathan Quick comes in.

He will be tasked with alleviating the pressure off of Shesterkin when given the net. The better he plays, the more opportunities he’ll have.

However, Quick’s prime years are behind him, and despite securing a third Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights recently, he didn’t see any action on the ice throughout the postseason. He’s in New York to honor his childhood dream in the twilight of his career.

Last season, the Kings conceded 3.1 goals per game, ranking 16th in the NHL. Meanwhile, the Rangers allowed 2.63 goals per game, fourth in the league. They were also fourth in the least shots allowed per game(29.4), while the Kings ranked 15th(35.3).

Although Quick,37, may not have the agility needed to stop the top scorers of today, he can rely on the support of one of the league’s top defensive units. The Blueshirts entered training camp with a budding blueline depth chart that includes former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox (24), K’Andre Miller (23), Ryan Lindgren (24), team captain Jacob  Trouba (28), and now Erik Gustafsson (30).

Quick also brings championship pedigree to the locker room.

Barclay Goodrow was the only player on the Rangers roster with a Stanley Cup win as they began the 2022-23 season. However, General Manager Chris Drury addressed this by acquiring Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, both former Stanley Cup champions on expiring contracts, at the trade deadline.

Despite these moves, the Blueshirts fell to the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the playoffs. Consequently, Drury brought in forward Nick Bonino, who’s won two cups, and Quick, who has three, raising the total number of championship wins on the team to seven.

The Rangers have players with experience who have yet to win a championship, and the young talents on the team require guidance. Bonino and Quick provide veteran leadership on and off the ice to the team’s overall goal of winning the Stanley Cup.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 13: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Laurent Brossoit #39 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate a championship win against the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 13: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Laurent Brossoit #39 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate a championship win against the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Speaking to NHL.com following his decision to sign with the Rangers, Quick admitted he didn’t envision himself anywhere other than Los Angeles.

“Up until about five months ago, I thought I was going to be retiring a King,” Quick said. “Those were the discussions that were had.”

Although he rode the bench in the playoffs, he wasn’t your typical backup netminder. “Unbelievable,” Hill said when questioned about Quick following Vegas’s Stanley Cup-clinching victory at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on June 13. “I talked to him all the time. Quick has been an awesome guy. He’s among the best guys I’ve met in hockey.”

It is now Shesterkin’s turn to receive some love, but Quick believes it may not be necessary.

“Igor, he’s Igor, and he doesn’t need too much mentorship with as good as he is and what he’s already been able to accomplish in his young career,” Quick said.

“He’s a player.” he added. “Obviously, got to play against him a few times over the past five years. To see the work he puts in and his competitiveness day in and day out, it’s fun.”

He also doesn’t view his backup role as a different job. “My job is, when I’m called up, stop the puck. Obviously, prepare for those moments and understand the role that this job is and who I get to work with everyday. Just support the team, support Shesty. And when my number is called, try to win games and stop the puck.”

“If there are times when I can help him, I’m willing to and looking forward to that, and also whenever I’m in the net trying to help the team win hockey games.”

“I think it’ll be seamless,” Blueshirts President and General Manager Chris Drury told NHL.com about the relationship between Quick and Shesterkin.” He’s excited to be a Ranger. A Connecticut kid that wanted to come here, play here, and be a Ranger. He knows all about ‘Shesty’ and his accomplishments, and I think he’s ready to take on the mentor role, similar to what he did in Vegas. We’re excited to have him.”

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