Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick underwent a procedure designed to strengthen tendons in his lower body. Quick injured his groin in the Kings first game of the season, it was the same injury that cost him time previously. He opted against surgery. This option will sideline the goaltender for three months.
Was told surgery option likely meant Quick was gone for rest of season vs rough 3-month timeframe this way https://t.co/o8wbW4brex
— Kevin Woodley (@KevinisInGoal) October 19, 2016
Quick Out Three Months
The injury is said to be in the same area where Quick sustained a strained groin in 2013. He was out for nearly two months with that injury. The Kings have stated that they will not be placing Quick on long-term injured reserve. The move would help the team in regards to their salary cap problems. The team placed him on injured reserve last week.
With Quick out for three months, the question becomes if the team will search for a goaltender or if they will try to stay internally until Quick returns. So far, the results from the team’s goalies are less than encouraging.
Jeff Zatkoff had only seen 35 games on NHL action before this season. The numbers have not been in his favor so far this season. Zatkoff is 0-3 on the season with a goals-against average of 4.38 and a save percentage of .839.
Peter Budaj is the other option the Kings have right now. The goaltender appeared in just two NHL games since the 2013-14 season. He has been playing in the AHL and performed well Budaj came to the Kings last season and regained some form en route to winning 42 games for the team’s minor league affiliate.
Ranford Speaks
Goaltending coach Bill Ranford discussed the importance of the expectations and workload for his two goaltenders.
“We’re going to need both of them,” Ranford said Saturday. “They’re two guys that have been No. 2 in this league. We need them to be No. 1A and No. 1B and be ready to play and give us a chance to win.
This will be a much different situation for the Kings since the last time Quick was down for an extended period of time. There’s no Martin Jones waiting for his opportunity to shine this time. All eyes will continue to be on Zatkoff and Budaj.
With the Kings in a salary cap crunch, going outside the organization for a goaltender would be a hard task. It’s likely the team will try to stick with what they’ve got or if necessary, find a cheap option on the market.
No matter what the Kings decide to do, it may have to be soon. The team has started 0-3 on the year and can not afford to continue this slide.
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)
