When Jonathan Quick announced his retirement at the end of the 2025-26 season, it seemed like the final chapter of a storied 19-year NHL career. But the recently retired goaltender is not straying far from the game or from the franchise where he spent his final three seasons. The New York Rangers have moved quickly to bring the veteran netminder back in a new capacity, and he won't be the only familiar face joining the front office.
The Rangers announced that Quick will serve as their new Director of Goaltending Development, a freshly created position within the organization. In this role, he will be responsible for overseeing the development of goaltenders across the entire Rangers system, including prospects playing for the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. He will report directly to Tanner Glass , the team's new director of player development and yet another former Rangers player.
Alongside Quick, the Rangers also brought aboard Derick Brassard as a player development assistant. Brassard was a fan favorite during his four seasons with New York in the mid-2010s, earning the nickname "Big Game Brass" for his postseason performances. He tallied six goals and six assists across 23 playoff games during the Rangers' run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. Brassard eventually departed in a 2016 trade with Ottawa that brought Mika Zibanejad to New York.
Reports indicate the Rangers had interest in hiring Quick before the season even ended, but the two sides needed additional time to finalize the details of his new position. The role was established in part due to the offseason retirement of Benoit Allaire, who had served as New York's director of goaltending.
Quick's playing career stands as one of the most accomplished in modern goaltending history. Originally selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the third round of the 2005 draft, he became the backbone of the franchise's golden era. He helped lead L.A. to eight postseason appearances and two Stanley Cup championships during his time there.
His defining season came in 2011-12, when he posted a 35-21-13 record with a .929 save percentage, a 1.95 goals-against average, and a league-best 10 shutouts. That postseason, he was even more dominant, going 16-4 with a .946 save percentage and a 1.41 goals-against average to earn the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He captured a second Cup with the Kings in 2014 and later won a third championship during a brief stint with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.
Over the course of his career, Quick accumulated 410 victories, the most ever by an American-born goaltender. He finished in the top three of Vezina Trophy voting twice, including in 2012 when he placed second behind Henrik Lundqvist , who is now a fellow member of the Rangers organization.
Quick spent his final three seasons as the backup to Igor Shesterkin in New York, compiling a 35-30-6 record with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. His last campaign saw diminished numbers, but his wealth of experience and championship pedigree made him an obvious candidate for a development role.
These hirings are part of a broader overhaul of the Rangers' player development department under Glass, who took over after the organization parted ways with longtime director Jed Ortmeyer in early May. Prospect development has been a persistent concern for the franchise, with the team's inability to consistently turn draft picks into NHL contributors widely viewed as a factor in their recent slide out of contention. Brassard joins former defenseman Marc Staal as a player development assistant on Glass' staff, while Antti Miettinen continues in his role overseeing European prospects. For Quick, a native of Milford, Connecticut, who grew up rooting for the Rangers, the opportunity to help shape the next generation of goaltenders for his childhood team may prove to be the perfect second act.
