Los Angeles, CA — There were considerable discussions regarding Erik Portillo’s potential re-signing with the Los Angeles Kings prior to the 2024-25 season. Given his exceptional goaltending performances with the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League (AHL) from last season, Portillo became the focus of attention regarding whether he would extend his affiliation with the Kings’ organisation. But today, Aug. 25, it was announced that the Kings extended Portillo for three years with an average annual value (AAV) of $783,333.
About Portillo
Portillo, 24 years old, began playing professionally last season for the Reign. During the 2022-23 season, Portillo was contracted to the Kings organization but did not make his professional debut until the following season with the Reign.
The 6-foot-6, 225 pound goaltender from Gothenburg, Sweden, participated in 39 games for the Reign last season, achieving a record of 24-11-3-2. He accumulated a 2.50 goals-against average (GAA) and a .918 save percentage (SV%) for the Reign. The 24-year-old Swede participated in all eight games during the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs and was 5-3-1. He accumulated a 2.16 GAA and .916 SV% from 185 saves.
Portillo established the foundation for the future of the LA Kings’ goaltending after one season of professional experience. However, it is important to acknowledge his humble beginnings.
Portillo’s NCAA Career
Originally a 67th, third round pick during the 2019 NHL draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Portillo developed his pro. skills in the NCAA with the University of Michigan prior to playing in the AHL. He had a collegiate campaign for three seasons, with the most recent engagement during the 2022-23 season.
During the 2022-23 season, he was contracted under the Kings. A statistical breakdown of his performance during the season reveals a record of 25-11-2 accumulated from 38 game appearances. Furthermore, Portillo achieved a 3.00 GAA and a .908 SV%. In the previous and his second season for Michigan (2021-22), Portillo participated in 42 games for the Wolverines, where he became 31-10-1, and posted a 2.14 GAA and .926 SV%.
During his first season for the Wolverines (2020-21), he only played in seven games and was 4-1-0-0. Portillo made his debut on Dec. 3 at Penn State, as he had 28:39 of ice time and made 15 saves from 17 shots. He accumulated a performance record of a 1.67 GAA and .935 SV% from 154 saves and 359:29 minutes of ice time.
Portillo’s career high was 51 saves on Jan. 27, 2023 against Penn State. He also finished his NCAA career with six assists.
His Junior Campaign
Before playing for the University of Michigan, Portillo participated in 27 games in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. He was 19-5-1-1 with a 2.11 GAA and a .915 SV%. After that campaign, he participated in the World Junior Cup under 20 for Team Sweden, but did not play a single game. However, he would later get invited to the International Juniors to play for Team Sweden’s under 20 team. He ended up playing in four games and was 2-2-0 with a 3.25 GAA and a .869 SV% from 86 saves.
Before that season, Portillo spent the majority of his playing campaign in his home nation of Sweden, with his most recent season — before coming to North America — being for Frölunda HC (J20). Under the super-elite Junior team during the 2018-19 season, he appeared in 26 games, and had a 1.99 GAA and a 9.31 SV%.
Erik Portillo has major potential on the Kings’ goalie core for the next and upcoming seasons. He has the skillset, youthful ambition, and expirence to make a an appearance during next season for the Kings.
The LA Kings will commence the regular season on Oct. 10 against the Sabres, with the preseason beginning on Sept. 23 at Utah against the new NHL team, the Utah Hockey Club.
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