LOS ANGELES — Jonathan Quick will step into Crypto.com Arena on Saturday as a visitor for the first time in his 16-year NHL career.
If his first meeting with the Kings, the team he thought he was going to retire to, had been circled on his calendar on Dec. 10 at Madison Square Garden, the future Hall of Fame goaltender would have returned to Los Angeles. It must have been. It will be highlighted, underlined, and an arrow drawn towards it.
A 25-save, 4-1 win against the Kings earlier this season clearly meant something to Quick, but Saturday definitely meant even more.
It will be emotional to skate against the organization that drafted him 72nd overall in 2005, in the city where his family was born, and in front of the fans who delivered him Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. It should be a great experience.
Quick returned to Las Vegas on Thursday night to a warm welcome. At that time, the Jumbotron at T-Mobile Arena played a hearty video montage of the 10 games he played for the Golden Knights last season en route to securing his third ring.
Still, Quick famously took it hard when the Kings traded him to the Blue Jackets, who shipped him to Las Vegas.
When Quick makes his first appearance in Los Angeles wearing a Rangers jersey, it will be his 755th career start, tying him with Tom Barrasso for the third-most by an American-born goaltender in NHL history.
This will be an opportunity for Kings fans to properly show their appreciation for the Kings, the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner and the franchise's all-time leader in countless categories.
Quick led the Kings in regular season games (743), wins (370), shutouts (57), career save percentage (.911), 20-win seasons (9), and 30-win seasons (6). ), and holds the record for 40 games. Winning season (1), playoff games played (92), wins (49), shutouts (10), save percentage (.921), and goals against average (2.31).
Leading the team he grew up rooting for to a much-needed victory over the club where he spent most of his career would be the perfect early birthday present for Quick, who turns 38 on Sunday.
But for the Rangers, it should give them extra motivation like they did in their first matchup with the Kings in December.
Rangers recall Matthew Robertson According to sources, he was acquired from AHL Hartford as a precautionary measure for a defenseman who was getting into shape.
