No. 3: Jonathan Quick
The LA Kings are another team that will be on the verge of a playoff spot this year but could be open to a trade if Cal Petersen becomes the starting goalie.
Petersen is 28-years-old, while Quick is 36-years-old, so the Kings may be interested in giving the youngster the reigns. The former Conn Smythe winning goalie isn’t the same player he was during the Kings’ Stanley Cup run’s but he would be pretty good insurance for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
At $5.8M AAV, on his last year of a contract, the Kings could trade Quick for an asset and then re-sign him in the offseason if they really wanted to. If the team is going to miss the playoffs, they could give Quick an opportunity with a contender, but still give him the option to return if he’s open to it.
Both Quick and Murray have two Stanley Cup rings, but Quick is more reliable, even at his older age. His stats have continued to be pretty good and he’d be a goalie that every player in the dressing room would respect.
In a Game 7 scenario, would you rather go with Murray, Samsanov or Quick? In a do-or-die game, you’re going with Quick every day, so that’s the only question you need to ask yourself if you’re looking at trading for him.