Los Angeles Kings goaltending prospect Erik Portillo is staying with the organization, agreeing to a contract extension.
Portillo is staying on a 3-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $783,333 after playing last season for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Kings, Portillo Stay Together on New Deal
Portillo, acquired by Los Angeles in a 2023 trade deadline deal with the Buffalo Sabres, has his contract set up differently than before. The deal’s first year is strictly two-way, meaning he can float between Los Angeles and Ontario. The second and third years of the agreement are one-way deals, setting him up to be in Los Angeles for those two years.
Before turning pro, he spent three years at the University of Michigan, where his junior season consisted of a 25-11-2 record in 38 games. His best collegiate season came in the 2020-21 season, when he led the nation in saves (1,111), was third in wins (31), was third in minutes (2499:13), and was fourth in winning percentage (.750).
He began his North American career with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2019-20. That season, he would win the USHL Goaltender of the Year award and was a First All-Star team nominee after posting a 19-5-1 record, a 2.11 goals-against-average, a .915 save percentage, and one shutout.
Last season for the Reign, his first season as a pro, he was solid from start to finish. He posted a record of 24-11-3, with a 2.40 GAA, a .918 save percentage, and two shutouts in 39 games. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Portillo put the league on notice and cemented himself as the starter going forward.
Ontario is soon beginning training camp, so Portillo is expected to be the starter going into the season. His backup will be decided in camp. J-F Berube, Ryan Bernard, and Jacob Ingham will fight for the backup spot.
Portillo is in a good spot right now as he continues to develop toward the NHL.
The Reign open their regular season schedule on Saturday, October 12, against the rival San Jose Barracuda.
PHOTO: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK
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