Ranking the Los Angeles Kings' best goalies after Jonathan Quick
When looking at the top goalies in franchise history for the Los Angeles Kings, the discussion really starts at number two. There is no question that Jonathan Quick has a firm grasp on the title of being the greatest goalie in Kings' history.
Quick would play in 743 games over 16 seasons for the Kings with the next closest being Rogie Vachon, who played in 389 games over seven seasons. In fact, there is no other goalie who has played more than 10 seasons and only 12 goals with more than 100 games played.
While there wasn't much competition for number 1, there were plenty of goalies competing for second through fifth. With that in mind, these are the Top 5 goalies in Los Angeles Kings' franchise history.
Ranking the Los Angeles Kings' best goalies in franchise history
5. Kelly Hrudey (1989-1996)
Kelly Hrudey played eight seasons for the Kings and appeared in the third most games at 360 games. He would be credited with 145 wins and when looking at some of his stats it might be a little surprising as he had a save percentage of .895 and a goal against average of 3.47 which ranked 31st and 38th respectively.
However, the lower save percentage could have been due to the high volume of shots he faced as he ranks second in franchise history at 11,336. He was part of some of the best teams from the 1990s as the Kings made the playoffs in each of his first four seasons but also was part of the team at their worst when they went 28-43-11 in 1996-97.
4. Felix Potvin (2001-2003)
There are only six goalies in Los Angeles Kings' history that had double-digit shutouts and one of those goalies was Felix Potvin, who had 14 during his time with the Kings. He was originally a second round pick by Toronto in 1990 and played eight seasons with that team.
He would join the Kings during the 2000-2001 season after the Canucks traded him to the Kings. Potvin made an immediate impact as he played 23 games and had 13 wins. Potvin would then be the primary starter the following season and win 27 games and in total had 61 wins during his time with the Kings, which ranks seventh in franchise history.
Potvin also would start in 20 games over two seasons, winning 10 of them, and had a save percentage of .925 and 2.34 goals against average in those playoff games.
3. Jamie Storr (1995-2003)
The next goalie on the Los Angeles Kings was the bridge between Hrudey and Fiset after being selected seventh overall in the 1994 Entry Draft. While he did first appear in the NHL in the 1994-1995 season, it wasn't until the 1997-1998 season that he saw extended time at that level.
In his first season, he appeared in 17 games and went 9-5-1 with a save percentage of .929 and a goals against of only 2.22. He would be named to the first-team All-Rookie team and followed that season up with another first-team All-Rookie nomination when he had a goals against of only 2.40 and a save percentage of .908.
For his career with the Kings, he would play in 205 games and won 85 of them with a career save percentage of .910 and a goals against of 2.53. He also has the third most career shutouts in franchise history at 16.
2. Rogie Vachon (1971-1978)
Rogie Vachon joined the Los Angeles Kings early in the 1972 season and would play in nearly 390 games over the next seven seasons, winning 171 of those. It shouldn't be much of a surprise that he is second because that is where his career stats rank in Kings' history, including games played for a goalie, wins, and shutouts.
During those seven seasons, he was a second-team All-Star twice, led the NHL in save percentage once (1974-1975), and would win 25 or more games in five of his six full seasons with the team. The Kings also would go on to the playoffs in five of his seven seasons with the team.
For a very long time, Vachon was the best goalie in Los Angeles Kings' franchise history and it wouldn't be until 30 years later he would lose that title.
1. Jonathan Quick (2008-2023)
Jonathan Quick was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings and would see his first NHL action in 2008. He would play only three games during that 2007-2008 season before becoming the full-time goalie the following season.
Quick would not only be the best goalie in Kings' history but at times during his 16 years with the team was the best goalie in the entire NHL. He would play in almost 750 regular season games and won 370 of them and has the best save percentage among goalies with 75 or more games played (.911) and the second best goals against average (2.46).
While the regular season stats alone earn him the title as best goalie in franchise history, what he was able to do in the playoffs really sets him apart with 49 career wins and 10 career shutouts in 92 playoff games. He had a save percentage of .921 and a goals against of 2.31 and somehow got better in the playoffs when going against some of the best teams in the league.
Similarly to how Vachon was the best goalie for 30 years, it is a title that Quick will hold for a very long time and unlikely to be dethroned in the near future.
*All stats courtesy of Hockey Reference unless otherwise noted.
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