Could we see a rookie tandem in the AHL? Breaking down the LA Kings’ Goaltending situation for the NHL and AHL clubs for the 2026-27 season

The LA Kings‘ prospect pool isn’t littered with high-end talent like it was five or six years ago when experts projected it as the number-one prospect pool in hockey. Instead, the excitement of the prospect pool comes in net, with four – now five, with Yegor Rybkin in the fold – blue-chip prospects putting on the pads and manning the net.

Petteri Rimpinen, 20, is going to stay in Liiga (Finland) for the 2026-27 season, leaving the remaining top three goalie prospects in the Kings system at the pro level. Both Carter George (20) and Hampton Slukynsky (21) will begin their pro careers, while Erik Portillo (25) is entering his fourth pro year. Currently having Anton Forsberg (32) and Darcy Kuemper (36) on the Kings’ roster, the organization quietly has a logjam in net.

With five goalies under NHL contracts, what options do the Kings have? Should they roll with all five when the puck drops to kick off the upcoming campaign? Should one be traded before training camp commences?

Let’s take a look at what options the Kings have in net.

Option #1: Run it back

The Kings brought in plenty of veteran experience in free agency, making them one, if not the oldest team by average age in the NHL. The organization has bought into the idea that they are Cup contenders, but when stacking the roster against a team like the Colorado Avalanche or Vegas Golden Knights, the chips don’t seem to fall in the Kings’ favor.

Since the Kings believe they are legitimate contenders to win a Stanley Cup, don’t be surprised to see them run it back in net with Kuemper and Forsberg, despite the injury history between the two netminders.

Option #2: Trade a goalie

Portillo will be 26 by the time training camp starts and has one game of NHL experience. The Kings need to figure out what their plans are for him. Luckily for the Kings, he is in the final year of his waiver exemption if they opt to loan him back to the AHL. If the organization feels that Portillo is ready to assume backup duties at least, then it’s possible we could see one of Forsberg or Kuemper dealt to make room for him.

Option #3: Carry three goalies on the NHL roster

It’s no secret that Kuemper regressed a year after a bounce-back year and has a history of lower-body injuries. On the other hand, Portillo has suffered his share of injuries the past two seasons, one of which included a season-ending back injury in February of 2025. It’s also safe to question whether Anton Forsberg can replicate his late-season success entering the 2026-27 season.

It’s a lot of what ifs, but if the Kings don’t make a trade to ship out one of the veteran goalies, they could try to find a way to carry three goalies and balance playing time for all of them.

Option # 4: Carry three goalies on the AHL roster, or place one of George or Slukynsky in the ECHL

Let’s play the hypothetical that the Kings don’t trade a goalie and decide not to carry on the NHL roster; that pushes Portillo back to the AHL, who again is waiver-exempt. They could keep three goalies on the AHL roster or place one of Slukynsky or George in the ECHL with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, eventually, to get playing time instead of musical chairs in net.

Option #5: Have a rookie tandem in net

This is the option I’m sure Kings fans would love to see come to fruition. Whether the organization trades one of Forsberg or Kuemper, or carries three goalies on the NHL roster with Portillo, it leaves open the possibility of having two rookie goalies share the net on the Reign.

The organization finds itself in a unique situation where George and Slukynsky, its top two goalie prospects, are turning pro at the same time. Both are 20 years old and bring a lot of excitement. If this is the way the Kings decide to go, seeing George and Slukynsky share the net and provide healthy competition in Ontario should be fun to watch.

Featured image credit: Megan Sanders/Ontario Reign