Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov are headed to the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick is part of the return to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Los Angeles Kings are parting with their Cup-winning, longtime goaltender in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Los Angeles traded goaltender Jonathan Quick, a conditional 2023 first-round draft pick and a 2024 third-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.
If the Kings fail to qualify for this season's playoffs, they keep the first-round pick and will instead send second-round picks in the 2023 and 2024 NHL drafts to Columbus.
It looked likely that the Kings would want another goaltender to support current starter Pheonix Copley for the rest of the season. Trading Quick, however, came as a bit of a surprise despite him being in the final year of a 10-year contract with a $5.8-million cap hit.
The Milford, Conn. native came to the Kings as a 72nd-overall pick in 2005 and achieved the third-most wins by an American goaltender since then. In 743 games played, Quick has a 370-275-82 record with a career 2.46 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and 57 shutouts.
Quick backstopped Los Angeles to its first two Stanley Cups in 2011-12 and 2013-14, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy the first time with a 1.41 GAA, .946 SP and three shutouts. He also won the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2013-14 and 2017-18 for being part of Los Angeles having the fewest goals against in the league.
This season is different, however. Quick, 37, lost out on the starter position by January to Copley and has an 11-13-4 record with a 3.50 GAA, .876 SP and one shutout through 31 games this season.
With Copley's 2.82 GAA and .899 SP, GM Rob Blake and the Kings looked for an upgrade in net and on the blueline as they continue their quest to make the playoffs and do some damage in a wide-open Western Conference.
Korpisalo, 28, has been admirable on a Blue Jackets squad sitting last in the NHL. In 28 appearances, the Pori, Fin. native is 11-11-3 with a 3.17 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. That save percentage is the best he's had since his rookie season in 2015-16 (.920).
After Columbus drafted Korpisalo 62nd overall in 2012, he has had some up and down seasons, with four where he had a save percentage below .900. Last season, he had a 4.15 GAA and .877 SP in 22 appearances, so he's had a decent turnaround this year.
Among goalies with at least 15 games played, Korpisalo has the 16th-best goals saved above expected, at 8.4, according to moneypuck.com. That means he's had to make some big saves on high-quality chances on occasion, which the Los Angeles Kings will be excited to see. Copley ranks 25th, with 4.3 goals saved above expected.
Korpisalo stole the show in the 2019-20 bubble playoffs when he made 85 saves in a marathon match against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the most in an NHL playoff game. The 3-2 loss in the fifth overtime won't take that away from him, either.
He proved then he can stand tall in the limited playoff experience he has, but he's had some injury issues over the past year that hopefully won't affect him in LA.
Gavrikov, 27, will also hope to help the Kings improve their even goal differential. The Yaroslav, Rus. native was drafted 159th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2015. In 52 games this season, he has seven assists, 10 points, 89 blocked shots and 22:20 time on ice per match. The 6-foot-3, left-shot defenseman last played on Feb. 11 against the Toronto Maple Leafs before being scratched for trade-related reasons.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets are starting to sell after a promising off-season went south with numerous injuries to key players. This was the clear route as they pick up a first-rounder in a deep NHL draft and a third-rounder.
Columbus also has its own 2023 first-rounder, which currently has a 25.5-percent chance at the No. 1 pick to win the Connor Bedard sweepstakes while the team sits last.
Somebody had to leave LA to accommodate Korpisalo and Gavrikov within the salary cap, and paying over $5 million for a backup made Quick the person to move. Nevertheless, trading a franchise goaltender in his late 30s to the NHL's basement is a harsh reminder that professional hockey is a business.