The Los Angeles Kings have acquired goaltender Pheonix Copley from the Tampa Bay Lightning in alternate for future concerns, the groups introduced Wednesday.
The @LAKings have acquired goaltender Pheonix Copley from the Tampa Bay Lightning in alternate for future concerns. Moreover, goaltender Erik Portillo has been loaned to the @ontarioreign, the Kings’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.
📰:https://t.co/drwGtM4uIx pic.twitter.com/3zI6fshqP3
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) October 15, 2025
Copley was claimed off waivers by the Lightning from the Kings on Oct. 2.
The 33-year-old North Pole, Alaska, native spent the 2024-25 season with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, the place he went 24-17-1 in 42 appearances with a .904 save proportion and a couple of.49 goals-against common. He appeared in only one recreation for the Kings final season, coming into in aid.
Copley signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with Los Angeles on June 16.
Copley has a 44-16-8 report with a 2.84 goals-against common and .898 save proportion in 77 profession NHL video games with the Kings, Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues.
After getting Copley again, the Kings introduced that they’ve loaned netminder Erik Portillo to the Reign.
What it means
Getting Copley again is a certain signal the Kings by no means wished to lose him within the first place. Attempting to sneak the 33-year-old veteran by waivers was unavoidable and the Lightning had claimed him on Oct. 2 to offer some speedy depth as longtime starter Andrei Vasilevskiy was recovering from damage throughout coaching camp.
However when Vasilevskiy turned obtainable for Tampa Bay’s season opener towards Ottawa and backup Jonas Johansson already in place, that when once more made Copley expendable. Los Angeles will gladly welcome Copley again. He’s been a dependable No. 3 possibility who has allowed speedy prospect Portillo to develop at a measured tempo.
Copley’s worth to the Kings was by no means extra necessary than within the 2022-23 season. When Jonathan Fast, the franchise’s iconic netminder, struggled to start out that 12 months and Cal Petersen was shaky regardless of a 5-3-2 report, Copley stabilized L.A.’s crease and helped maintain the season on the rails. His superior metrics weren’t nice, however a 24-6-3 report with a 2.64 goals-against common and .903 save proportion was regular sufficient.
Finally, the Kings acquired Joonas Korpisalo and went with him of their playoff collection towards Edmonton. However with the Kings returning Portillo to the AHL’s Ontario Reign, the acquisition of Copley may sign their desire for a veteran backup to Anton Forsberg as Darcy Kuemper offers with a lower-body damage. Kuemper didn’t follow Wednesday and is listed as day-to-day.
Forsberg figures to start out Thursday towards Pittsburgh and be the man within the close to time period. The Kings have a five-game highway journey after Saturday’s house contest towards Carolina. That’s the place Copley may come into play if Kuemper doesn’t enhance sufficient to make the journey. — Eric Stephens
