Report: Jonathan Quick to “Skip” All-Star Weekend

An interesting little tidbit about the All Star Game was revealed this morning:

All Star notes:
-Sounds like Brayden Point will replace Victor Hedman on Atlantic Team.
-Jon Quick is going to pass on the weekend. Replacement will be Mike Smith.
-Even if suspended, Marchand is expected to be in Tampa.

— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) January 24, 2018

An injured defenseman is being replaced by a forward and Jonathan Quick has decided to opt out of this weekend's festivities. There have been no indications that he was injured in the team's blowout loss to the Vancouver Canucks last night. He wasn't pulled until after he'd already been nailed for five goals against and uh didn't take that decision lightly.

In any case, if he does, in fact, skip All Star weekend, he'll automatically be suspended for one game, which would come on Tuesday the 30th at the Dallas Stars and would also mean that Darcy Kuemper starts that game. No one associated with the Kings have confirmed this news yet, so it remains to be seen if he changes his mind.

Starting Kuemper wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for the Los Angeles Kings. Quick has been very off his game lately and we here at Jewels suspect that his workload may be partly to blame. Who knows, maybe with Kuemper in net, the Kings might score first* instead of giving up a soft goal by an over aggressive goalie.

*Results not guaranteed: see San Jose Sharks game on 1/15/2018.

UPDATE 2:45 P.M. PT:

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, via email, says Quick ``will have to sit out a minimum of one game _ either tonight or upon return.'' League policy for late ASG player withdrawal

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 24, 2018

Per John Shannon of Sportsnet, Quick is expected to dress as the backup for tonight's game so I guess that means... Jack Campbell come on down??? TBD for Tuesday but it seems likely with Quick's impending suspension he'll get the recall as Jeff Zatkoff was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for “future considerations” a few days ago (not that he was actually playing in Ontario). We'll have more updates after General Manager Rob Blake speaks with the media prior to tonight's game.

Also expecting to get a Forbort update at that time. Will relay what @curtiszupke and I learn from Blake on that and other topics during several reports this evening during pre-game and in-game @FOXSportsWest coverage. Will also join the @NHLNetwork at 4:15 p.m. PT. https://t.co/PBMxPEG8Yg

— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) January 24, 2018