Late this week, the Los Angeles Kings have started to get a clearer picture of what the projected roster will look like for opening night next week for the regular season opener. The Kings sent down goalie Erik Portillo to the AHL affiliate Ontario Reign ahead of the preseason finale against the Anaheim Ducks at Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 4.
Los Angeles Kings keep making roster moves after sending G Erik Portillo to the Ontario Reign
The Kings announced on Friday morning (Oct. 3) that Portillo is being "loaned" to the Reign in the AHL for this upcoming season.
This news comes after the Kings recalled Portillo from the Reign in the AHL earlier this week to be the third-goaltender on the active roster for the preseason game on Thursday night (Oct. 2) against the Utah Mammoth.
Portillo is likely going to be the first goalie the Kings call up to the NHL roster if anything happens to starter Darcy Kuemper or backup goaltender Anton Forsberg this season.
In the preseason this fall, Portillo started one game for the Kings in a 5-3 loss to the Ducks on Sep. 27. Portillo stopped 25 out of 29 shots in the Kings two-goal loss to the Ducks this past week in the preseason.
Portillo has worked his way back from an upper-body injury he suffered this past season in the AHL with the Reign in Ontario. He was a consistent presence in the crease for the Reign in the AHL when he was healthy in net for Ontario in the past couple of years.
"I think hockey wise, I feel good. I feel ready for the season. I’m excited to be back. Obviously, today wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but in general, I feel good, and I feel like my game has improved."Erik Portillo
This past regular season, Portillo made his NHL regular season debut for the Kings in a 2-1 win over the Ducks in late November 2024. He stopped 28 out of 29 shots on goal from the Ducks in the one-goal win in his debut for the Kings last fall in the 2024-25 campaign for LA.