Bear Larry BrooksRangers backup goaltender Jaro Halak will test the free agent market and likely won’t return to the Blueshirts. Chris Drury will now need to find not just a backup goalkeeper, but a competent one at a fairly cheap price. Jonathan Quick could be an option for the Rangers, one that’s been mentioned a few times already, and he definitely checks most boxes for the Rangers, including some that might not have been considered before.
In backup, Rangers need a guy who can play 20-25 matches efficiently at a level sufficient to keep Igor Shesterkin rested. Kwik is certainly capable of that, even if there are some questions about his ability to shift from starter to backup, because that takes a whole different mindset. Fast must be up to the task.
So why fast and not a younger backup? The answer is in the contract.
At the age of 37, Kwik is eligible for a one-year contract. Given the cap issues the Rangers face, there is an opportunity for them to save about $700,000 in cap space by sidestepping a $1.5 million backup goalie, like Halak last year. Quick can get a minimum league contract with easily obtainable rewards, bringing that limit to the next season as the rewards increase. It’s a unique way around some cap issues.
Of course, this assumes Quick will take on a contract like this and take on a pure backup role. Of course we won’t know more until tomorrow.