Talk about getting the wind knocked out of you.
The Los Angeles Kings are 0-2 to start the NHL season, but the unkindest cut of all came on Saturday when it was reported that All-Star goalie Jonathan Quick could be out for at least four months with a groin injury.
The Kings placed Quick on the injured reserve on Thursday after their netminder was hurt in the first period of the season opener against the rival San Jose Sharks.
The injury was an unspecified lower-body injury, but it's been reported that it is a severe groin injury that could require surgery. If the Kings and Quick opt for surgery, Quick could be out for at least "three to four months."
The Kings started Jeff Zatkoff in net on Friday in their home opening loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Staples Center and have recalled Peter Budaj from their AHL affiliate in Ontario
Zatkoff was a third-round pick by the Kings in 2006, but signed with the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent in 2012. After winning a championship, he returned to Los Angeles for the 2016 season.
Zatkoff won the backup goalie role by beating out Budaj in training camp. Budaj is a 34-year-old goalie from Slovakia who has spent nine seasons in the NHL with Colorado and Montreal.
The loss of Quick is a huge blow to the two-time Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings. Quick was in net when the team won both titles in 2012 and 2014 and was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the NHL Playoffs MVP in 2012. In 2014, he won the Jennings trophy and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2012 and 2015.
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There are rumblings that Quick may have originally hurt his groin at the World Cup of Hockey this summer, but he claimed before the season started that the tournament did not affect him as he got ready to start the season.
Latest on @JonathanQuick32 Bad groin injury. Surgery a real possibility. @LAKings looking at 3 to 4 months w/o #1 goalie. — Daren Millard (@darenmillard) October 14, 2016
