Jonathan Quick skated off the ice for the final time on April 13, a loss to the Florida Panthers, and it was a bittersweet moment for the future Hall of Famer. On one hand, it was tough to go out on a loss, but it was also a reminder of how tough his season was and why it was finally time to hang up his skates. Quick was an amazing pro for the New York Rangers who was a great mentor and leader, and his overall tenure was a positive one that won't be defined by a difficult final season.
Expectations
Quick ended the 2024-25 season with a record of 11-7-2 with a .893 save percentage and a 3.17 goals against average in a season he turned 39. It was a year that was less efficient than his first year on Broadway, and that explained why his workload was a littler lighter. In any case, heading into 2025-26, there was a sense that Quick was in the final year of his contract, and the end of a career that will eventually be celebrated with enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The expectation for Quick was to do his best as an occasional backup, and continue to be a great mentor.
Performance
The veteran netminder was thrust into the starter's role after Igor Shesterkin went down with an injury, and ended up playing more games than he could have ever expected. It didn't help that he had a bulk of games in succession, and some of this was because a condensed schedule with the league breaking in February for the Olympics.
Quick ended the season with a record of 6-17-2, a .891 save percentage, and a 3.09 goals against average which was slightly better than the year before. His underlying metrics were a mixed bag, as he posted a -1.35 GSAA (goals saved above average) and a 4.34 GSAx (goals saved above expected) per Evolving-Hockey. Considering his age, the expanded workload, and the state of the team in front of him, things could have gone a lot worse for Quick. But with that said, it was clear that he was running on E down the stretch, and that was more evident once you saw how the team responded with Dylan Garand in goal.
Grade: C+ (generously on a curve)
Where they go from here?
Quick has retired from the NHL, and it will be interesting to see what he does next. He is someone that could eventually return to the Rangers in some capacity, and it wouldn't be surprising if he took a front office advisory job similar to Blake Wheeler. Quick is from Connecticut, and his retirement will give him an opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad again and be with his family. But athletes are creatures of habit, and stepping away from the routine can be difficult. In any case, while Quick is gone for now, I think his Rangers story will have a few more chapters in some capacity in the future.
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