This was the season that Jonathan Quick was supposed to gracefully step aside and let Cal Petersen assume the role of starting goalie in Los Angeles. After all, the Kings exposed the netminder for the expansion draft – Seattle passed – and signed his understudy to a three-year, $15 million contract extension. The time, it seemed, had come.

But it turns out the veteran wasn’t quite ready to hand over the reins. Quick has been proven to be the best option this season for a surprising Kings team that’s exceeded expectations.

This isn’t the first time that Quick has turned back a challenger for his starting job. Jonathan Bernier, Martin Jones, and Jack Campbell all came into town with more impressive pedigrees than the 2005 third-rounder, but none was able to supplant the veteran. And so while they all toil elsewhere, he continues to script his Hall of Fame resume in Los Angeles.

With two Stanley Cups, the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy, and a pair of Jennings Trophies, he’s got the hardware to make his case. He also has some big numbers. Among the latest: a 4-1 victory over the Ducks on Feb. 25 was the 350th of his career. That’s a mark just three other US-born goalies had achieved and put him within striking distance of Ryan Miller’s U.S. record of 391. He also became the third active goalie to reach the milestone, joining Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price.

Despite his success, Quick’s cards remain relatively affordable. But with so many different options to pursue – more than 2,500 base, parallel, autograph, relic, and oddball singles in total – kicking off a Quick collection can be overwhelming. Looking for a little guidance? These 10 cards serve as an excellent representation of his playing career, making them the foundation of an enviable Quick PC.

The Kings nabbed two franchise cornerstones at the 2005 Draft, taking Anze Kopitar at 11 and Quick, a grad of the prestigious Avon Old Farms prep school, at 72. Less than three years later, his teammates staked him to a 7-0 lead on the way to an 8-2 win over Buffalo in his NHL debut on Dec. 6, 2007. That appearance earned Quick three RCs in 2008, including the rarely seen Be A Player (#247) out of 99, and this /999 single which is his most widely traded, and most popular, rookie choice.

Despite returning to L.A. for 44 games in 2008-09, Quick was ignored by Upper Deck. Outside of a tough Manchester Monarchs team issue, he appeared only in the goalie-centric Between The Pipes series that season. Each of those 20 cards pictured Quick in his AHL gear – a curious situation for an NHL starter. This single in particular stands out for being his first certified autograph card. Despite using a sticker, it’s a popular addition to any Quick collection.

By season three, Quick was firmly established as the goalie of the present in Los Angeles. He appeared in 72 games – a career-high – and won 39 (second-most). All that action made it easy for UD to find a spectacular image for this single, which makes the cut on the strength of a clean design that emphasizes the action photo. This parallel is limited to just 100 copies, the sort of print run that sees these inserts gaining momentum on the secondary market.

The 2011-12 season is remembered as the one in which he established himself as an elite netminder. Quick finished second in voting for the Vezina and was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team after posting a league-leading 10 shutouts. Good thing he was so stingy. His team scored just 194 goals, the second-fewest in the NHL. This stunning card captures Quick on opening night wearing the throwback royal purple jersey along with a mask that paid tribute to franchise legend Rogie Vachon.

There was no doubt that Quick would be named winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy after the team clinched its first Stanley Cup in 2012. The netminder allowed just 29 goals in the Kings’ 20 playoff games, including a mere seven goals in the six-game Final as Los Angeles knocked off the Devils. This single, issued the following season, captures the moment as he was handed the hardware by Commission Gary Bettman. It was limited to just 99 copies and remains a tough find a decade later.

Quick earned his first of two career Jennings Trophies in 2014, and second of two Stanley Cups. His play wasn’t at the same level as in 2012, but he matched the only number that matters – 16 wins – to lead the Kings to the title. This single is the perfect memento of that season, with a print run of 12 copies and a sharp design that draws the eye to the oversized swatch – in this case, a perfectly cut patch featuring the top of the Kings’ crown.

This is the one insert set every player wants to appear in, and Quick’s had two of them. He earned his first DWTC single two years earlier, but this is the one everybody remembers. Where to start with this epic image? The cast from post-Final wrist surgery? That frat boy summer attire, highlighted by a tank top emblazoned with the Great Hambino from “The Sandlot” calling his shot? Whatever element draws you in, there’s no denying this single was an instant classic.

The 2015-16 season was one of Quick’s best, with a career-high 40 wins earning him an All-Star Game appearance and a Vezina finalist nomination. He also earned his 41st-career shutout in a 32-save win over Chicago on March 14 to set an NHL record for the most by a U.S.-born goaltender. This /20 booklet ranks as one of his best cards ever, with the horizontal design allowing for a jumbo image of the netminder augmented by two oversized stick swatches.

This was the last great season of Quick’s career (so far, anyway), with the keeper earning his second Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the league. His .921 save percentage was the second-best of his illustrious career. This single poses a serious challenge for the most dedicated Quick collectors with a print run of just 25 copies – many of which may still be in unopened packs. It’s a beautifully executed parallel, with a stunning design that sets it apart from the crowd.

Canvas is beloved by collectors for going out-side the normal bounds with its photo selection, but this single stands out from the pack. From a technical standpoint, this is a highly flawed photo, but at the same time the drama of the action – Quick is captured close up while diving backwards to make a save in the 2020 Stadium Series game against the Avalanche – is mesmerizing. It’s what makes this one of his must-own cards.

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