According to Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi, goaltender Jonathan Quick is on schedule to make his return mid-February. The goaltender has been sidelined since October 12. Lombardi stated earlier Wednesday that Quick would return in March, but since said he misspoke. March is a worst case scenario with Quick expected due back mid-February.
Jonathan Quick could be back as early as February according to @LAKings general manager Dean Lombardi. https://t.co/mY32bOjjBs
— NHL (@NHL) December 14, 2016
Jonathan Quick On Schedule With Recovery
Jonathan Quick had a non-surgical procedure performed on October 19th to correct his lower-body injury. The timetable on his recovery was set at about three months. Lombardi mentioned that the best case scenario on his return would be early-February but early-March if there was a setback.
Peter Budaj has handled the goaltending duties during Quick’s absence. While the team has faired decently well without Quick, Lombardi knows that there are still issues.
“Clearly when you lose your No. 1 goalie, you’ve got a hole. But the reality is, you’ve got two issues: first, what’s out there [on the trade market].” Lombardi stated. “Two, a lot of our players haven’t been at the top of their game and we’re still in it.
Holding the Fort
In the 25 games that Budaj has played, his record is 13-7-2 with a 2.27 goals against average and a .907 save percentage. Decent numbers for a goalie that couldn’t buy a win in the AHL before coming to the Kings. He has given up nine goals in the past three games, however.
Jeff Zatkoff has only seen seven games of action so far this season. His record sits at 1-5-0 with a 3.20 GAA and a .882 SV%.
The team is coming off a 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, their third loss in the past four games. Budaj started the game, but would be replaced by Zatkoff in the second. He did come back for the third period, however.
As it stands, the Kings still have about two months or so before Quick returns. Lombardi stated that he won’t mortgage the future to bring in another goaltender.
“I think, as you’re seeing, there’s not a lot out there,” Lombardi said. “To say there’s something [a trade] on the horizon? No.”
With that said, it’s likely that Budaj will continue to get most of the playing time in net. The Kings just have to hope his recent play doesn’t continue as they currently stand on the outside looking in within the Pacific Division.
Main Photo:
LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 08: Goaltender Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings tends net during a preseason game against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on October 8, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Colorado won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
