Kyle Garcia 
With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Erik Portillo!
Erik Portillo
Birthdate: September 3, 2000
Birthplace: Goteborg, Sweden
Height: 6’6
Weight: 225 lbs
Position: Goalie
Catches: Left
Draft: 3rd round, 67th overall, 2019 NHL Entry Draft
2023-24 season
After being acquired for a 2023 third-round pick at the trade deadline in 2023, Erik Portillo entered the season as the number-one goalie prospect in the pipeline for the Kings. With that comes expectations. After a rocky Rookie Faceoff tournament, some within the fan base started to pile on the 23-year-old rookie and labeled him a bust. With Jonathan Quick between the pipes for 16 years, there was lots of pressure on Portillo because the goalie position in the pipeline was thin, and labeled the future goalie immediately.
I didn’t have much expectations for the rookie netminder because I felt the transition from college to the AHL and the fact goalies often take time to develop, would be a season of learning for him. When the season started Portillo was the backup to David Rittich. Early on you could see the potential Portillo had with his size and ability to play the puck, but you also saw the things he needed to work on, mainly the rebound control.
As the season progressed, those areas began to improve little by little. When Rittich was called up to the Kings after Pheonix Copley suffered a season-ending ACL injury during a practice in December, Portillo’s workload increased and eventually became a 1A/1B tandem with Jacob Ingham and Aaron Dell. Toward the end of the season head coach Marco Sturm started Portillo in four of the final five regular season games to increase his workload and prepare him to be the number-one starter for the Reign’s playoff run.
What a save by Ports 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/v1AwpXdlEN
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) May 5, 2024
Portillo started in all eight of the Reign’s playoffs and posted a 5-3 record with a 2.16 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage, and one shutout. His first two series against the Bakersfield Condors and Abbotsford Canucks were his best series. While the numbers are excellent in those two series, and overall, the division finals series against the Coachella Valley Firebirds would be his off series of the playoffs as the Firebirds picked corners, particularly high blocker side, en route to their three-game sweep of Ontario.
In the end, Portillo’s regular season record was 24-11-3, with two shutouts, a 2.50 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage. Among qualified rookie netminders, he ranked fourth in save percentage and sixth in goals-against average. His 24 wins are the most for a rookie goalie in Reign AHL history.
WOAHAHH https://t.co/OjltfbkwsN pic.twitter.com/VjQQFijIb8
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) May 5, 2024
Not bad after a rocky September Rookie Faceoff performance if you ask me.
2024-25 outlook
Portillo is currently a restricted free agent. He should be signed any minute now (one would think) and may sign his deal by the time you’re done reading this. When Portillo is signed, I expect him to return to the AHL and split the crease with Copley. For those who are wondering, Portillo is still waiver-exempt for this season, meaning he won’t need to pass through waivers to go back to Ontario.
I mentioned earlier about the rebound control, I’m curious to see how that plays out this year and how much he improves in that area. Teams will start to game plan for him now and he’ll have to adjust to that as well. Like last year, I believe a 1A/1B tandem with Copley and Portillo should be the way to go for Sturm to keep both players fresh and an evenly split workload to begin the season.
Given how the Kings have had to rely on their third-string goalie two months into the season the previous two years, it’ll be interesting to see who gets called up first when the Kings need that third goalie this year if it comes to that point. I’m leaning on the side of it being Copley due to experience, but things can change when that time comes. What matters is Portillo continues to develop well and, hopefully, be in the NHL in one or two years.
Year one was a success for Portillo. Now it’s time to see what year two has in store. Remember, it’s important not to rush a goalie’s development. Look at what the Sabres did with Devon Levi last year by rushing him to the NHL after playing only seven NHL games the previous year after his collegiate season at Northeastern concluded. You don’t want that situation.
Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Ontario Reign