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: Gothenburg, Sweden
Height: 6’6
Weight: 210 lbs
Position: Goalie
Catches: Left
Draft: 3rd round, 67th overall, 2019 NHL Draft
2025-26 season
After being KO’d for the final two months of the 2024-25 regular season with a back injury, Erik Portillo sounded poised to bounce back following a lengthy road to recovery. Portillo spent all season in the AHL with the Reign, starting as the club’s number-one netminder. The start of the season was terrific for the Swedish netminder, surrendering two goals or fewer in six of his first eight starts.
Oh Ports?!?! He’s CRUSHING it!!!🤩#ReignTrain | #TUCvsONT pic.twitter.com/HGYUGoaV8Z
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) October 11, 2025
But, just like the previous season, Portillo suffered an injury in Calgary, only this time it was in November, and he was able to return to the net in early January. When he returned, he picked up right where he left off, recording a 19-save shutout on January 4th against the Iowa Wild.
Portillo continued to rack up wins with his strong play, but hit a rough patch in March where he lost five straight starts. He rebounded well and won two of his last three regular season starts. For the playoffs him and veteran goaltender Pheonix Copley rotated starts in their exciting five-game series with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Portillo started games one, three, and five, and played well, but was on the losing end twice, including Game Five’s double overtime defeat to end the Reign’s season.
For the regular season, Portillo played in 30 games and posted an 18-7-3-0 record with a 2.45 GAA, .907 SV%, and one shutout. For the playoffs, he went 1-2, with a 2.14 GAA and .926 SV%. He saw 30 or more shots in two of those games.
Game saving stop by Portillo as they head to double OT in Ontario https://t.co/qYWDBgPwjO pic.twitter.com/1Ltuw7Ca9p
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) May 10, 2026
2026-27 outlook
Now comes the tricky part. As of right now, the Kings still have Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg under contract, making Portillo’s situation a little tricky. The Kings can carry three goalies if they choose to, or assign him to the AHL and take advantage of his last season of being waiver-exempt. Doing that means the Reign could carry three goalies themselves or push one of Carter George or Hampton Slukynsky down a level to get playing time in the ECHL.
Portillo will be 26 at the beginning of next month. Having only one game of NHL experience under his belt, the Kings need to see what they have in him as an NHL goalie sooner rather than later. Portillo is in the final year of his NHL contract and will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
Featured image credit: Megan Sanders/Ontario Reign