After clearing waivers last week, the Minnesota Wild have officially sent Kyle Quincey to the AHL. As Michael Russo of The Athletic reports, they continue to try and trade the veteran defenseman, but will bury him in the minor leagues for the time being. Minnesota saves most of Quincey’s $1.25MM cap hit by sending him down, and have recalled Ryan Murphy after a similar cap-saving maneuver yesterday.
Quincey hasn’t been a great fit in Minnesota, refusing to play the right side for head coach Bruce Boudreau and generally being ineffective in his limited minutes. The Wild have several younger, cheaper, more mobile options that can fill his role, but it may be hard to find a buyer. Once known for his solid two-way style and offensive upside, Quincey is no longer an option on the powerplay and seems to be on the last legs of his career.
At 32, there is reason to believe that he could bounce back somewhat on a different team and find some of the magic that he found as a young player for the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche. It’s been nearly a decade since his best seasons though, and he’s now struggled on three different teams in the last year. Minnesota would have to find a team desperate for veteran depth to take him, and even then it’s unlikely that it would be to take over a role on the NHL team right away. More likely it would be as a veteran option to keep in the AHL as injury insurance.
He’s a pretty good defensemen. Surprised no one picked him up when he was waived.
Refusing to play the right side? Dude…you’re not good enough to refuse to play anywhere…maybe that’s why your in the minors
You have it right Bed, Quincey just shouldn’t be very picky about where he plays. He wasn’t that good in Detroit & they let him go. That fact should tell you everything anyone needs to know about Quincey, even the Red Wings didn’t want him. Wow, playing in the NHL & refusing to play on the right-d? Come on man.
^^ Bdd^^