The LA Kings goaltending across the organization has been solid to start the year and I believe it will continue!

Cam Talbot

Cam Talbot was signed as an unrestricted free agent on July 1st and could be the steal of free agency. Even with the loss on Wednesday against Washington, he has been incredible. His record is 10-4-1 with a .928 save percentage and a 2.02 GAA. He’s been so good for the Kings at a time when the goalie position was in a state of flux after last season. Talbot has put himself in the mix of frontrunners for the Vezina trophy. He’s been the King’s best player at this point of the season.

Phoenix Copley

Copley was brought back on a one-year deal after he saved the Kings’ season last year. He had a rocky start to begin the campaign, and his stats reflect that, as he currently has a .868 save percentage and 3.04 GAA. He is currently 3-0-2 on the season, so even with his stats not being where you’d like them to be, he has gotten at least a point in all of his fully started appearances. However, he’s turned his game around lately with back-to-back solid Wins. With a 30-save performance against Arizona and an 18-save Shutout against Montreal. The Kings need Copley to play like his last two starts on a more consistent basis so Cam Talbot doesn’t get overused by the playoffs in April.

David Rittich

He was the veteran goalie signed in July to be a mentor to Erik Portillo in Ontario. So far in Ontario, he’s 6-4-2 with three shutouts on the year. Rittich has done well for the most part, especially with that very impressive shutout steak. However, there have been multiple instances where he’s looked shaky in net. If Ontario wants to keep up with the top teams in the Pacific, Rittich has to be fully on his game because teams Like Calgary will take advantage of any small mistakes that happen near the net.

Erik Portillo

He was acquired last deadline by Rob Blake for a 3rd round pick. The big question heading into this year was how he would adapt to the professional level. So far, he’s adapted nicely. On the season, he’s 5-1-0 with a shutout. Among qualified goalies in the AHL, Portillo is fourth in both save percentage (.932) and goals against average (1.96). He does need to work on his rebound control, and he can be a tad aggressive when playing the puck, especially behind his net. Those are things that you can work on, and that’s what the AHL is for players to develop.

Jacob Ingham

After an injury caused Ingham to miss all of last season he was given a contract by Ontario to get back to his form before his injury. So far, for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, he’s been good. In nine games, he’s 7-2 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.88 GAA. It’s good to see Ingham bounce back from his injury so well. If this continues, you may see him get the call to Ontario sooner than later.

Hampton Slukynsky

Slukynsky was the Kings’ fourth-round pick, 118th overall, and looks like an absolute steal of a pick by Rob Blake. So far, with the Fargo Force of the USHL, he is 9-0 with an.927 save percentage and a 1.53 GAA with Three Shutouts. His Save Percentage, GAA, and Shutouts currently lead the USHL. Blake may have found the King’s future number-one goalie at a time when the salary cap may prevent him from making a trade or signing for a goalie.

Juho Markkanen

The Kings fourth-round pick in 2020 may not be anything more than a potential throw-in for a trade, at this point. In five games for HPK Hameenlinna, he has a .860 save percentage and a 3.72 GAA. He’s never had a good season over in Europe since being drafted, and I don’t see how he fits within the current plans of the organization, especially with Portillo and Slukynsky. Most likely, at this point, he could be dealt in a minor trade for a draft pick, or the Kings lose his rights for nothing this summer. 

Featured image credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

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