Terry Sawchuk, 1968. Mario Lessard, 1981. Rogie Vachon, 1973, 75, 78.
Those are the only three goaltenders to represent the LA Kings in the NHL’s annual All-Star Game.
Jonathan Quick cannot be added to that group, at least not this year.
The full rosters were announced earlier today and Anze Kopitar was the lone Kings player on the list.
But, how in the world was Quick left off? He continues to get zero respect around the league, despite his play over the last two seasons.
Players inside the Kings locker room have tremendous things to say about him, even former King Sean O’Donnell who once told me the Kings will one day win a Stanley Cup because of Quick. Yet, he might be the most anonymous player on the team outside of Southern California.
Yes, he’s been a little erratic of late. However, the voting has been wrapped up for over a week and was meant to be over a larger body of work – i.e. the first half of the season.
He was arguably the best goalie in the league the first month of the season (7-1 record, 1.84 goals-against-average, .936 save percentage and gave up only one goal in four of his eight starts). Then, the team as a whole slipped in November – it can’t be blamed on him. Plus, he topped his awesome October with an equally impressive December – including three shutouts and a 7-3-1 record.
What more do people want from him?
As written about here, this guy was counted out from day one. It looks like little has changed.
Maybe you can blame it on the Kings’ history of poor goaltending. Come on, only three netminders in the 40-plus year history of the franchise get the call…and none since the team hosted the event in 1981?!? Who knows.
One thing is for sure though, it’s now been 36 years since a Kings goalie started in an All-Star Game (Vachon, ’75).
Looks like Quick will have to wait until next year to see if he can snap the streak.
The Mayor
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RELATED ARTICLES:
Counted Out Too Quickly – feature story on Jonathan Quick
Kelly Hrudey on Jonathan Quick
Hugging the Post with Kelly Hrudey – full MayorsManor interview w/ former Kings goalie
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