Jonathan Quick was dealt twice in as many days during the 2022-23 season, but the 19-year veteran goalie isn’t seeking another relocation amid the Rangers’ continued sell-off before the March 6 trade deadline.
The pending unrestricted free agent controls a 20-team no-trade clause in his contract, but what if a contender looking for an experienced backup for its playoff push could attempt to rent the two-time Stanley Cup winner?
“I’m happy here. I want to be here,” Quick said after practice Thursday in Tarrytown. “It means a lot to me to wear this jersey.”
A Connecticut native, the 40-year-old Quick signed a one-year deal with the Rangers in free agency in the summer of ’23 after the longtime Kings stalwart had been traded on consecutive days earlier that year from Los Angeles to Columbus and then to Vegas.
He then inked two more one-year deals — including a $1.55 million one for this season — to serve as Igor Shesterkin’s backup.
“When I signed the contract, I planned on honoring the contract,” Quick said earlier in the week. “The focus is always where you’re at and what you’re doing currently.
“That’s where the focus has been and will continue to be.”
Quick had been playing more regularly ahead of the Olympic break with Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox sidelined since they both suffered lower-body injuries in the same game against the Mammoth on Jan. 5.
Quick ranks fourth on the league’s all-time wins list with 408, but he’s just 4-14-1 this season with a 3.10 goals-against average in 20 appearances (19 starts) for the Blueshirts, who own the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 22-29-6 ahead of Thursday’s restart game against the Flyers at MSG.
That mark includes just three wins in the final 18 games (3-13-2) before the break, plus the trade of leading scorer Artemi Panarin to the Kings.
“It’s a result-based business, and you lose sight of it being in business at times, just because it turns into a family, right, with the guys you’re with every day,” Quick said. ‘You know their kids and wives and vice versa.
“It’s always difficult when, for any reason, that guys you’ve been with for a couple years move on. So it’s a reminder that it is a business, and I’m sure the guys will go to those new teams and make some great relationships and have some fun playing hockey. And our focus has to be fully on who’s here now, and what we could do as a group.”
One group that is enjoying success is Team USA — led by first-year Rangers coach Mike Sullivan and featuring captain J.T. Miller and forward Vincent Trocheck — at the Milan Cortina Games.
The Americans will face Slovakia on Friday in the semifinals, with a clash with rival Canada, who first must beat Finland, in the gold medal match potentially looming Sunday.
“I’d imagine both teams are very focused on their semifinal match,” said Quick, who represented the U.S. in Olympic play in 2010 (silver medal) and 2014 (no medal). “Both teams have a tough matchup … and their full focus is on respecting their opponents in the semifinal match, and I’m looking forward to watching. It’s been really good hockey for the past two weeks there. It’s been fun to watch, so I’m sure it will be a couple great games [Friday].
“Obviously, it’s always an honor to represent your country. And you’re very fortunate to be a part of that a few times. Obviously you want to see the group that’s over there do as well as they can.”
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