LA Kings

As NHL Network sat down to complete their season previews for the 2023-24 campaign, the position that worried them the most for the LA Kings: Goalies.

“If there’s a weakness, I have to say it’s probably with their goaltending,” said NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

After the trade for PL Dubois and the subsequent $8.5 million per year contract followed by other player extensions, it became clear the Kings would dive into the year with a bargain group in net.

With Pheonix Copley signed to a one-year extension at $1.5 million before the end of last season, general manager Rob Blake filled the rest of the goalie room with the signings of Cam Talbot to a one-year deal at $1 million and David Rittich to a one-year deal as well with a cap hit of $875,000. A gamble, but so far, it’s paid off.

Looking around the NHL, there are 36 goalies with a cap hit higher than the $3.375 million for the Kings goaltenders combined. Still, LA is tied for fifth in the NHL in team save percentage at .909, according to hockeyreference.com. And they’re the only team with three different netminders to record a shutout this season. That’s damn good value.

Cam Talbot

After a rough year in Ottawa, Cam Talbot found his form again earning him his second All-Star nod. His cap hit of $1 million was the lowest among the all-star goaltenders.

The 36-year-old’s .916 save percentage is his highest since 2019-20 with Calgary. And his 2.47 goals-against average is the lowest since 2016-17 when he was with Edmonton.

Pheonix Copley

Pheonix Copley had a patchy start to his campaign but started to find his stride again. Coming in as the savior from the 2022-23 season, it sucked seeing Copley labor off the ice following a season-ending ACL injury at a practice in December. Rest up Pheonix. You’ll be back.

David Rittich

With one goalie down, David Rittich was called upon and he’s filled in nicely. Among goaltenders with at least ten starts, his .919 save percentage is 5th in the NHL, and his 2.19 goals-against average sits 3rd. Both numbers are career highs for the Czechia native.

Rittich is also second in goals saved above expected (GSAx) per 60 minutes at 0.691, according to moneypuck.com. Even with those excellent stats, it’s his personality that stands out most.

Structure helps

NHL Network’s Rupp followed up his earlier comments by explaining how the team in front might affect any goalie concerns. “When you play the right way in front of an NHL goaltender they’re going to thrive. We saw Vegas do it, they won a cup.”

Some of that is true for the Kings. Focusing more on structure, especially of late, LA has the fifth-best expected goals against (xGA) per 60 rate at 2.35 during 5-on-5 play, according to naturalstattrick.com.

The 1-3-1 neutral zone is helping to alleviate a lot of the pressure for the Kings goalies. But one area of surprise is the penalty kill. That’s where we see this group shine.

Penalty kill

Talbot (2nd), Copley (3rd), and Rittich (8th) are all top ten in penalty kill save percentage. And the Kings’ .916 Sv% while shorthanded is first in the league, according to naturalstattrick.com.

Even in high-danger situations, Copley stopped all 17 high-danger chances against him during his 44 minutes of penalty kill time. And Talbot’s .909 high-danger save percentage sits third in the NHL, per naturalstattrick.com.

With Talbot and Rittich as the duo moving forward, it remains to be seen who would be the Game 1 starter come playoff time. Both are playing rather well. I could see Talbot getting the nod with his experience. But don’t count out Rittich.

Either way, though this gamble by Rob Blake has been successful during the regular season, the playoffs are where it’ll matter the most.

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