Kings don't expect Quick back until March at earliest, says GM

The Los Angeles Kings have pushed back the expected return date for goaltender Jonathan Quick.

The initial target for Quick's recovery from a groin injury was mid-February, but he isn't likely to step back into the crease until early March at best, general manager Dean Lombardi told Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider on Tuesday.

Quick isn't skating again yet, and Rosen writes that Lombardi "acknowledged that there was a big difference between Quick getting onto the ice to test his injured groin in a limited step forward, and actually getting onto the ice and facing shots in a more structured setting."

Losers of four straight, the Kings have been relying primarily on Peter Budaj in net, with the odd start coming from Jeff Zatkoff. Los Angeles sits outside the Western Conference playoff picture, but goaltending hasn't really been a big issue, as the Kings ranks seventh in goals against per game (2.49) and 22nd in average goals for (2.47).

Whether the Kings make a move to bolster the offense and the backup goalie position remains to be seen, but if Quick is able to return shortly after the March 1 trade deadline, that could serve as a huge addition for the stretch run in and of itself.