ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Kings’ American Hockey League (AHL) goaltending prospect, Erik Portillo, made his National Hockey League debut yesterday (Nov. 29) in Anaheim against the Ducks. Portillo was first called up to the NHL by the Kings on Nov. 15 of this year, primarily serving the next few games as a backup to David Rittich.
With Darcy Kuemper being on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) for the second time this season, Portillo finally got his shot at the Kings’ roster. The call-up was mainly due to Phoenix Copley’s poor track record from both his time with the Kings and Reign this season.
For yesterday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Kings took it with a score of 2-1 at the Honda Center. Alex Turcotte scored the first goal for the team, tying it up in the second period as Ryan Strome opened up scoring in the same period.
But during the third, Alex Laferriere broke the tie and sealed the deal for his team to take the final game at the Honda Center, as Portillo made dire last second saves while the Ducks ushered a 6-on-5 advantage with the net open. The rookie goaltender made 28 saves of 29 shots on goal against the Ducks, delivering his first ever NHL win in his career.
From 58:37 minutes on ice during this game, Portillo accumulated a .966 SV%; David Rittich was stalled in net during the third frame for over a minute.
More About Portillo
Portillo, 24, standing tall at 6-foot-6 and weighing around 220 pounds, is in his third season under the Kings’ organisation, with this season being his second with the Ontario Reign (AHL) and first on the Kings’ active roster.
During the 2024 offseason, the 24-year-old signed a contract extension for three years worth around $2,350,000 with an average-annual value being an NHL standard of $775,000. He first signed in April of 2023 while he was playing for the University of Michigan Wolverines.
With Portillo joining the playing mantle, he is now the third Swedish born goaltender to tend the net for the Kings; along with being the first netminder from the University of Michigan men’s team to tend for the Kings and ninth overall player alumni to be present on the Kings’ roster. For his first season signed under the Kings, he was finishing up his final season as a Wolverine, prior to making his AHL debut.
During last season, the netminder from Gothenburg, Sweden recorded 24 wins from 39 games and posted a 2.50 goals-against average (GAA) along with a .918 save-percentage (SV%) in his first season with the Reign. For this season, he has won four of his last six games in his second campaign with the Reign, posting a 2.68 GAA and a .906 SV%.
Judging by how poorly the goaltending consistency has been, giving Portillo the opportunity to make his debut was not only necessary but also an opportunity to see where the future of the Kings’ goaltending core stands. So far the tandem of Kuemper, David Rittich and Copley has been disappointing, but honestly not surprising.
The reliance of three 30-year-old goaltenders was bound to render poor results. Kuemper has played in ten games, winning four for the Kings this season (2.65 GAA & .903 SV%); Rittich has won eight of his last 15 games (2.52 GAA & .886 SV%); and Copley has started in one game and lost it against the Toronto Maple Leafs (4.37 GAA & .833 SV%).
But with Portillo having two more years on his three-year, standard NHL contract, the young swede may see a full-time shot for next season if his impressive track record in the Minors carries into the big show — the NHL.
Both Rittich and Copley will be free agents after their contracts are up from this year, with Kuemper’s ending in 2026 on a five-year $26,250,000 contract.
Overall, Portillo will likely see more NHL ice time this season, as it’s unclear when Kuemper will be released from LTIR. The Kings will be back at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 30 against the Ottawa Senators.
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