The Rangers had their reasons for bringing Jonathan Quick on board three years ago. There’s a certain logic behind the extensions and raises he received, too.
As he turns 40 in just a couple of weeks, it’s likely the days of him vying for the Vezina Trophy are behind him. Yet, he stands as a vital backup for the Rangers, especially considering they’ve invested $92 million in their star goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, who might be unavailable for a while.
Quick’s a future Hall of Famer, tasked with supporting this franchise, and maybe someday, he’ll find a spot in Toronto’s hockey history.
For the past two seasons, Quick hasn’t had much opportunity to take over for Shesterkin, who started over 55 games last year and a league-high 34 before Wednesday’s match.
But with Shesterkin sidelined early in the match against Monday, Quick will now step into the starting role for the foreseeable future. Following a lower-body injury, Shesterkin was placed on injured reserve the next day. Spencer Martin from AHL Hartford was brought in as his replacement, though head coach Mike Sullivan didn’t elaborate on the severity of the injury or when Shesterkin might return.
Still, having Quick as a substitute in such unfortunate circumstances feels “fortunate,” as forward Mika Zibanejad noted.
On the season, Quick holds a record of 3-6-2, with a .919 save percentage and a 2.23 goals-against average, marking his best performance with the Rangers. However, it’s been a while since they last celebrated a win—dating back to November 7—despite Quick seldom allowing more than three goals in recent games.
The defeat against the Capitals on New Year’s Eve feels like an outlier.
Things changed quickly last Monday when Shesterkin was injured; he fell to the ice in visible pain after what was a minimal contact play by Utah’s JJ Peterka.
Quick knows this situation well, having started four consecutive games last season when Shesterkin had a previous injury.
This season, Quick has taken the net for three games straight around the All-Star break due to Shesterkin’s struggles, marking moments of what some might consider a goaltending controversy.
“He’s done this before, so we trust his capabilities,” Zibanejad remarked about Quick’s role. “Honestly, we’re lucky to have two exceptional goaltenders who can step in without hesitation.”
As the Rangers wait for updates on Shesterkin’s recovery, Quick has another chance to demonstrate that the most winning American goaltender in NHL history can still shine during this late stage of his career.
Entering Thursday’s matchup, the Rangers remain outside of playoff contention in a competitive Eastern Conference. The situation grew dire when both Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox were injured on the same night, and their recovery timelines remain unclear.
This team has faced numerous struggles with injuries this season, especially after dealing with previous core failures.
“I truly believe we can compete in every game, so just give us the chance,” Sullivan said about adjusting to the losses of Shesterkin and Fox. “We’re undeniably stronger with them in the lineup. That’s obvious. But this opens doors for other players to step up and take on bigger roles, gaining more ice time and making an impact,” he added.
Starting Thursday, it’s Quick who will be leading the charge.
