Los Angeles Kings Sign Goaltending Prospect
The Los Angeles Kings may be in the heat of battle with the Edmonton Oilers, but the front office is still hard at work thinking of the future as well. They've signed recently-acquired goaltending prospect Erik Portillo to a two-year entry-level contract.
Congratulations Erik Portillo!
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) April 22, 2023
Today he signed a two-year contract with @LAKings!#GoBlue〽️ #ProBlue pic.twitter.com/p581ayZdNB
The deal runs through the 2023-24 season and is worth an average annual value (AAV) of $875,000.
The 22-year-old Swede was acquired by the Kings from the Buffalo Sabres on March 1st for a third-round pick in this year's NHL Draft. It had become apparent that Portillo would not be signing with Buffalo, so the Kings took advantage to scoop him up.
The netminder has some solid size between the pipes, at 6'6", 220 pounds. He recorded a 25-11-2 record with a 3.00 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage with the University of Michigan this season. His 25 wins ranked 3rd in all of the NCAA. His numbers were even better the season before, with 31 wins and a 2.14 GAA and .926 SV%.
After being drafted by the Sabres in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Draft, he played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL, where he won Goaltender of the Year honors in 2019-20, going 19-5-1 record with a 2.11 GAA and a .915 SV%.
Portillo will be the newest interested—and invested—observer as the Kings take on the Oilers in Game 4 of their first-round series Sunday night. LA leads 2 games to 1.
Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
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