DETROIT, Michigan — The way the Rangers mobbed Jonathan Quick in Arizona, after the first-year Blueshirt became the winningest U.S.-born goaltender with his 392nd career victory, was telling.
It painted a story of a 38-year-old netminder, who was celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime achievement with his teammates, just over a year after having his storied NHL career turned upside down.
In that moment, however, all anyone could see was the Rangers’ genuine elation for a player who has brought so much into the locker room in such a short amount of time.
It was a scene that revealed why the Rangers chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association selected Quick as the club’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.”
“Played in one place for such a long time, had so much success,” said Chris Kreider, who can relate as a player who has spent his whole career with one team, in advance of Friday’s 4-3 win over the Red Wings. “Obviously, he’s going to have his number retired, probably be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He’s a living American legend. I just think it speaks volumes about how he was able to do something that he had never done in his career, to leave a situation where he was very familiar and comfortable.
“And to not only have as much success as he’s had, but to endear himself so quickly in Vegas and obviously here. You see the reaction when he wins that game in Arizona. How absolutely thrilled everyone is. We’re thrilled to have him for another year after this.”
His trophy case — filled with three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe and two William M. Jennings — and list of accolades may go on and on, but that’s only made the way he’s worked through the last year of his career all the more impressive.
Quick thought he was going to retire in Los Angeles, the city he helped deliver two championships to after the Kings drafted him 72nd overall in 2005.
In the midst of Quick’s down year, however, the Kings traded their longtime franchise goaltender to the Blue Jackets, who then sent him to Vegas to ultimately win his third ring with the Golden Knights the very next day.
Getting traded for the first time and coming to terms with the end of an era all presumably took a toll on Quick’s psyche, as well as his game, which led to some of the worst numbers he’s ever posted in his career.
Signing with his childhood team, the Rangers, as a free agent this past summer, Quick brought a winner’s presence into the locker room.
He only recently fell out of the top-10 goalies in the NHL (minimum 20 starts) in both goals-against average (11th, 2.54) and save percentage (T-13, .913).
On Friday, he picked up victory No. 393 after making 31 saves against Detroit.
It earned him a one-year extension with the Rangers, who were quick to see the value Quick brought to the locker room.
“Quickie is a legend,” K’Andre Miller said. “I remember watching a number of USA hockey events with him in it and just finally being able to play with a person of that caliber and a player of that caliber is unreal. His work ethic everyday, coming to the rink with a smile on his face, pushing his teammates to get better.”
