Fansided

Los Angeles Kings: 5 burning questions for 2018-19 season

By Jeremy Lambert

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 17: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts to a goal from Brayden McNabb #3 of the Vegas Golden Knights for a 1-0 lead during the second period in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 17: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts to a goal from Brayden McNabb #3 of the Vegas Golden Knights for a 1-0 lead during the second period in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 15: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings looks on during the third period in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round against the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 15: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings looks on during the third period in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round against the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

2. Is Jonathan Quick still the best goalie in the league?

We all remember this tweet.

We’re headed into year seven of 11. The first two years of the tweet looked genius. The last four has Old Takes Exposed just waiting to retweet.

Quick posted a 2.40 goals-against-average in 2017-18, his highest total since 2012-13. On the positive side, his .921 save percentage was his best number since 2011-12 and he appeared in 64 games after a groin injury limited him to just 17 games a year prior.

The lack of goal support speaks for itself. It would be unfair to blame Quick for the shortcomings of the Kings since their 2014 Stanley Cup. But when your social media guys tweets that your goaltender will be the best in the league for the next 11 seasons, your goaltender needs to get out of the first round at least once in the last four years.

Quick will be 33 by the end of the season. I’m less concerned with him slowing down than I am a a forward or defenseman. After all, Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy were still at the top of their game at the same age. Marc-Andre Fleury was 33 last season and was arguably better than Quick.

No, Quick is not the best goaltender in the league. According to the regular season award, that honor belongs to Pekka Rinne. If we’re judging based on the playoffs, Braden Holtby is the top netminder. But you don’t have to wait long before you get to Quick’s name on a list of top goalies.

In 2018-19, he’ll be a leading man once again.

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