On Saturday night, it was like a Hollywood premiere at Crypto.com Arena as the LA Kings gave legendary goaltender
Jonathan Quick the red carpet treatment, treating the crowd of 18,292 to a heartwarming video tribute. It was heartwarming, even if the man of honor didn't return the favor in his postgame press conference. The goalie was practically knighted as "the best to ever protect our net" in bold letters at the end of a touching two-minute thank-you video.
Los Angeles Coach Todd McLellan
emphasized the importance of the ceremoy:
Obviously, that ceremony and acknowledgment were really important for a lot of people in that locker room. It was emotional for a lot of our guys and very deserving.
He deserved an extra five minutes. It's too bad we couldn't stop the clock.
Quick's Glory Days: A Flashback to Glory Days Amidst Homecoming
In the final days of his Kings tenure, Quick would channel his prime, making impressive saves reminiscent of his glory days. However, those moments became increasingly rare. The netminder and 2012 Conn Smyth recipient proved instrumental in the Kings' 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup triumphs. He had an abrupt departure, as he was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets last March before being flipped to the Vegas Golden Knights and securing another Stanley Cup.
General Manager Rob Blake
expressed gratitude after the trade, saying:
Jonathan Quick is the best goalie to ever play in this organization, let alone in the league.
From Heartwarming Tributes to Ice-Cold Remarks: Quick's Unfiltered Postgame Reveal
Despite the Kings denying Quick a triumphant return with a 2-1 victory, the significance was undeniable. During the video tribute, the 38-year-old raised his glove hand and stick in an exchange of gratitude. However, when asked about it later, he downplayed the moment :
We play 41 road games; this was just one of them.
They play videos all the time; it's just another video.
The response was a far cry from his comments on December 10th when he described defeating the Kings 4-1 at Madison Square Garden as 'special,' admitting to circling the tilt on his calendar when the NHL schedule was released last summer.
Quick is the Kings franchise leader among goalies in games (743), wins (370), and shutouts (57); ironically, he finished his Kings' tenure against his current team on Broadway, where the Blueshirts hung five on him in a 5-2 win.
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