Los Angeles Kings Rumors: Team Will Have To Be Savvy With Salary Cap To Keep Goalie

The Los Angeles Kings' acquisition of goaltender Joonas Korpisalo from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the trade deadline has proven to be a positive move for the team.

Korpisalo's recent performance with the Kings has impressed the team, and they may consider him as their starting goaltender for next season and beyond.

Despite being pulled from Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, Korpisalo had a strong save percentage of .918 in the previous four games.

What a save by Joonas Korpisalo after Connor McDavid walked through three of the Kings four penalty killers. Holy wow. pic.twitter.com/iBNUKqJ7WM
— Jeff Middleton (@jjmid04) April 18, 2023

The Kings' desire for an experienced starting goaltender was evident when they acquired Korpisalo, as they had hoped for similar success from Cal Petersen, who they signed to a three-year, $15-million contract extension in September 2021.

However, Petersen really disappointed this season, getting sent down to the minors after just 10 games.

While the Kings have Pheonix Copley under contract for next season, they'd definitely prefer to have someone with more experience tending the pipes, like Korpisalo.

The Kings currently have approximately $6.7 million in projected cap space for next season with 19 roster players under contract, giving them the flexibility to re-sign Korpisalo to a short-term deal.

Joonas Korpisalo bails out Doughty with a huge pad save on Evander Kane#GoKingsGo | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/oWy3UIm0r1
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) April 24, 2023

That being said, they also need to re-sign pending RFA Gabriel Vilardi as well, leaving very little money for a multi-year deal with Korpisalo.

As a result, if the Kings can't find a way to clear some salary to make room for Korpisalo, he'll likely opt to explore the free-agent market this summer, as he'd definitely land a nice deal with a team looking for a seasoned goalie.

Nonetheless, it seems that Korpisalo's recent performance has positioned him well for a potential extension with the Kings, and the team may prioritize retaining him to address their need for an experienced starting goaltender. Photo Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports