On Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles Kings sent goaltender Pheonix Copley through waivers to assign him to the AHL affiliate Ontario Reign for the second time this month, early this regular season. Copley spent a couple of games in the NHL early this regular season with the Kings, backing up Anton Forsberg in net this past week for LA.
For the second time this month, the Los Angeles Kings send goalie Pheonix Copley through waivers
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Oct. 22 that the Kings placed Copley on waivers to assign him to the Reign in the AHL in the middle of this week.
This news comes roughly just one week after the Kings reacquired Copley in a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning in return for "future considerations". The first time the Kings sent Copley through waviers was back in early October when the team initially cut the training camp roster down to just two dozen players going into the 2025-26 regular season this fall.
Tampa Bay claimed Copley off waivers the first time the Kings sent him through this fall a few weeks ago.
Copley was reacquired by the Kings to add depth and veteran experience in goal behind Forsberg after starting goalie Darcy Kuemper suffered a lower-body injury this past week on the road vs. the Minnesota Wild. Kuemper missed two games as a result of the lower-body injury last week.
While Copley has been dressed out on the active roster for the Kings in multiple games early this regular season, he hasn't seen any action for LA.
Assuming Copley clears waivers late this week, he'll be assigned to the Reign in the AHL. This will be familiar territory for Copley who played over 50 games in Ontario in the AHL in the past two regular seasons for the Reign.
This past season, Copley registered a 24-17-1 record with a .904 save percentage, 2.49 goals against average, and two shutouts in 42 games played for the Reign in the AHL.