When looking at the LA Kings’ roster heading into the 2023-24 season, goaltending is its biggest question mark. With the loss of Joonas Korpisalo, the Kings will be running with Cam Talbot and Pheonix Copley as their tandem. David Rittich will also be there as an experienced third-string netminder.
To be blunt, none of these three is the elite goaltender that legitimate Stanley Cup contenders often need to take that next step. Yet, that does not mean that they can’t make a positive impact this season.
LA Kings have 3 solid goaltenders to work with
Talbot, 36, had a down year with the Ottawa Senators in 2022-23, posting a 17-14-2 record, a .293 GAA, and a .898 SV%. He performed far below expectations, but when looking at his track record, he is a clear bounce-back candidate this season. He will also be playing with a Kings team that has an excellent defensive group in front of him, something the Senators lacked last season.
Copley, 31, is criminally underrated. The longtime AHL goalie proved that he could handle NHL competition last season, posting an excellent 24-6-3 record. If he can replicate this kind of play, the Kings will be in excellent shape having him as their 1B or backup.
Rittich, 31, also is coming off a decent season as the Winnipeg Jets’ backup goalie. In 21 games, he had a 9-8-0 record, a .901 SV%, and a 2.67 GAA. Having him around as another backup option is certainly not a bad thing, as he can get the job done and comes with plenty of experience.
Although no one from this trio is a star, they have the potential to be effective if they each play at their best levels in 2023-24. They also will have the benefit of playing with a strong defensive group in front of them, so don’t overlook them. We will need to wait and see how they perform with the club from here.