QUICK AN OPTION FOR MAPLE LEAFS?

TORONTO, ON – Jonathan Quick’s name has been circulating around the NHL these last few days as a possible target for teams looking to bolster their goaltending position, either in the starter’s role or as a veteran 1B.

Quick, 35, has two-years left on his 10-year, $58 million contract. While he comes with a $5.8 million cap hit, he is only owed $3 million in salary next season and $2.5 million in 2022-23. The actual dollars aren’t the issue when trading for Quick; it’s the cap hit.

Now, if he plays lights out, who cares? But his age is a concern for some clubs. Nevertheless, there’s chatter and it has made its way to Toronto.

According to multiple sources, the Los Angeles Kings have spoken with the Maple Leafs about Quick. At this point, a move does not sound imminent, but the option appears to be available if Toronto decides to pursue it in the next three weeks.

Leafs starter Frederik Andersen has been playing hurt the last two weeks and Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed Saturday night after the team’s 2-0 win over Calgary that Andersen wasn’t even available to backup Jack Campbell “because of something he’s been dealing with.”

“We’re going to have to monitor his situation,” Keefe added. “Jack, of course, we know what he’s been through here. There may not be much decision to be made for me (as to who starts Thursday night in Ottawa). The goalies themselves based on their health, that may determine it for us.”

Andersen is in the final year of a five-year, $25 million contract and can become an unrestricted free agent this July. He was the subject of trade talk and rumours last off-season and his future with the Leafs is murky given the team’s cap situation.

Quick backstopped the Kings to two Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014, with a Western Conference Final appearance in between. He played well last season, especially down the stretch, but hasn’t seen the bulk of the duties in L.A. this year due to the emergence of Cal Pettersen between the pipes – and that’s clearly given Kings management something to think about. His championship pedigree, though, is valuable and both Campbell and Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin can vouch for their former starter.

If this materializes, it could get complex. There’s a belief out there that if Andersen isn’t severely injured, he (and his $5 million cap hit) would be sent to the Los Angeles, upon which Kings GM Rob Blake can hold on to him for their own playoff run until he hits the open market as a UFA in the summer or flip him to another team before the deadline – the Carolina Hurricanes had interest in him in the off-season.

The Leafs would surely want the Kings to retain a portion of Quick’s salary – that could come into play if he’s dealt to any team, not just the Leafs. The Kings are willing to take on money if they’re incentivized to do so, and I can’t imagine moving Quick for a pending free agent is a big motivator, so more would have to come back L.A.’s way.

Coincidentally, Toronto’s Director of Pro Scouting is scheduled to attend today’s Kings game. It’s a timeline appearance even though Troy Bodie happens to be based in Los Angeles, as it’s the first Kings home game he’s been on the list for in some time.

Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said this week he’s willing to move some of his top prospects, and I believe that includes their first-round pick, though I’d be surprised if that’s part of any deal for Quick.

Assuming this actually plays out and the Kings take back a portion of Quick’s deal, acquiring him takes care of Toronto’s starter’s role for the next two seasons at a lower cap figure, giving them a little more flexibility when it comes to trying to re-sign other pending free agents like Zach Hyman, whom I wrote about last week. It also creates slightly more space for another add up front, which Dubas is trying to do ahead of the April 12 trade deadline.

The Leafs would probably expose Quick in the expansion draft, like the Kings are expected to do, but I don’t get the sense he’s on Seattle’s radar. And I’m sure another shot at a championship is motivation enough for Quick to play his best in the post-season.

Campbell, however, earned a well-deserved shutout last night and is the likely starter for Toronto’s next game Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. His performance could ultimately dictate what the Leafs do here if management is contemplating a move. At the same time, are they comfortable with Campbell holding down the fort until Quick (or another goalie) wraps up a mandatory 14-day quarantine?

Toronto is in win-now mode and there are clearly some questions being raised up top about the No.1 position. If they believe Quick eliminates those concerns, then they have to go for it. If they feel Andersen’s their guy, then stick with him.

Quick popped in and out of trade speculation last season, but the Kings poured water on that early. Things are different this season and I’ll be curious to see if they explore other options over the next few weeks.

NO OFFER TO PEARSON YET

The Vancouver Canucks were expected to start negotiations with Tanner Pearson’s agent this past week, but that hasn’t happened yet.

Pearson, who is in the final year of his current contract, injured his foot/ankle Wednesday and is expected to see a specialist as early as Monday to accurately diagnose his injury and provide an appropriate timeline for a return – right now, that’s up in the air and could be anywhere from two-to-four weeks. At least that is the hope.

I’m not hearing a lot of optimism around a new deal. Not now, at least. With contracts due this summer for pending restricted free agents Elias Pettersson, Thatcher Demko and Quinn Hughes, there might not be a whole lot of room for Pearson’s next deal.

We’ll see where this goes. The Canucks have climbed back in the race and GM Jim Benning wants to see how they play these next couple of weeks before selling off assets. If they slip and don’t have a sense they can sign Pearson, the Canucks could move him by the trade deadline.

SOUND THE CANNON!

A couple of weeks ago it was all doom and gloom in Columbus. Head coach John Tortorella was losing the room, sniper Patrik Laine was having issues, and GM Jarmo Kekalainen was ready to sell off pieces.

Don’t look now but the Blue Jackets hold the fourth spot in the Central Division, tied in points (33) with the Chicago Blackhawks (Dallas is six points back with five games in hand). This changes things... but how much?

Defenceman David Savard is still expected to hit the free agent market in the summer and Kekalainen must decide what the best course of action is. Do they hold on to him for a run and risk losing him for nothing in July, or do they trade him to a Stanley Cup contender for a package of assets? That’s a decision management has to figure out.

Captain Nick Foligno is also a pending UFA, but as we reported a few weeks ago, he wants to stay in Columbus. I haven’t gotten the sense contract negotiations are fully underway on an extension, but given the team’s quick turnaround, they might not consider moving him by the deadline if they keep up this pace.

Kekalainen still wants a top centre, but that move is more likely to occur in the off-season, which he alluded to last week. For now, they’re going to see how these next couple of weeks go before determining what route to take ahead of the deadline.

WELCOME BACK, EH?

Nineteen of 24 U.S.-based NHL teams have already brought back fans or mapped out plans to welcome them in some capacity – the Colorado Avalanche are the latest, with fans set to return April 2.

On Thursday, Illinois announced it has moved into its Phase 4, which allows for 25% for indoor ticketed spectator events, and has planned a “bridge phase” to allow 60% capacity for indoor ticketed events based on case metrics and vaccination rates – there’s no hard date for that just yet.

At 25% capacity, the Chicago Blackhawks can have roughly 4,700 fans in the United Center once their plan gets approved. There hasn’t been an announcement there yet.

In California, our own Dennis Bernstein reported Saturday on ‘The Hot Stove’ on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio that the Los Angeles Kings are expecting fans back before the end of the regular-season, with the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks likely in the same boat, and plans there could be announced in the coming weeks.

As for north of the border, things have proven to be stricter.

All seven Canadian NHL teams have prepared plans to welcome back fans into their arenas, but most of the provincial governments don’t appear ready for that. However, as TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reported Saturday night, the Montreal Canadiens presented their plan to Quebec Public Health this past week that would allow between 2,000 to 4,000 fans starting some time next month.

The province has the final say, obviously, but the Habs are being proactive. A 9:30pm curfew is currently in affect in Montreal, recently relaxed from 8pm, and that could play a factor in Quebec’s decision. By mid-April, though, perhaps that’s finally lifted?

We know the Ottawa Senators are itching to get fans back in their barn and owner Eugene Melnyk’s “robust public safety plan,” prematurely tweeted in January, called for 6,000 fans and included rapid testing upon entry.

If things move in a positive direction for the Habs, the other six Canadian clubs will push their provinces to allow similar plans to be initiated.