Jones assigned to Manchester

As had been expected once Jonathan Quick showed no ill effects in returning from his Grade 2 groin strain in last night’s 3-1 Los Angeles win over Vancouver, the Los Angeles Kings assigned goaltender Martin Jones to the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday and are now carrying 22 players on the active roster. There is now an open roster spot, which provides the team flexibility in the event it decides to recall left wing Tanner Pearson or center Linden Vey from Manchester, or in the event of any other transactions.

Because Ben Scrivens would have had to clear waivers to be assigned to Manchester – which had virtually no chance of happening, given his high level of play this season – Jones was always perceived as the player who would be designated for the AHL upon Quick’s return.

Including his debut performance in which he stopped all eight shootout attempts in a 3-2 win at Anaheim on December 3, Jones posted an 8-3-0 record with a 1.41 goals-against average, a .950 save percentage and three shutouts in 11 appearances. He carries a $550,000 cap hit while on the active roster and is signed through the 2014-15 season, after which he will become a restricted free agent.