Olympic Quick?

As discussed a bit yesterday, the Canadian media has discovered Jonathan Quick, both because Quick has been playing well of late and because, on Jan. 1, USA Hockey will announce its Olympic team, and Quick is in strong contention for one of the three goalie spots. Up here, it’s all about the World Juniors and the Olympics right now (well, and Tiger Woods, of course). Quick was asked today about his prospects for making Team USA…

QUICK: “I have a job here to do, with these guys, and I’m just going to focus on that 100 percent. There have been times when I have had questions from the media about it. Quite frankly, that’s really the only time that I address it or think about it. Aside from that, I have no part in the decision. You’ve just got to play hockey, and do what you’re doing. I have a job here, and that’s where my focus is.”

Quick is scheduled to make his 34th start of the season tonight, in the Kings’ 37 games. Given the fact that the Kings have an eight-day break ahead, and one set of back-to-back games on Dec. 30-31, it’s highly probable that Quick will end up starting 37 of the first 41 games, putting him on pace for a 74-start season. That would top the record for most starts in a season by a Kings goalie, 71 by Felix Potvin in 2001-02. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves by a wide margin. Here’s what Terry Murray said today about Quick’s big workload…

MURRAY: “He’s loving it. He’s thriving on these minutes, and the opportunity to play. He’s a good kid. He’s a skilled player. He loves to work, and physically his makeup is, to me, he’s the kind of guy who can handle those minutes and get used to it, because I’m going to continue to play him as we move forward after the Christmas break.”