The Los Angeles Kings are heading into the 2026-27 season with plenty of attention on the top of the roster, but the real intrigue may come from the players fighting for a chance to matter in a bigger way.
With a new coaching staff in place and several important jobs still up for grabs as training camp and the preseason approach this fall, a few lesser-known Kings could find themselves with a real opening. If they seize it, they could wind up making far more noise than expected.
One of the most interesting names in that group is Erik Portillo, a goaltender who sits in a tricky spot on the depth chart but still has a path to the NHL if things break right.
The Kings’ starting goalie battle is already shaping up to be a tight one, with Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg entering training camp neck and neck. That leaves Portillo as the wild card in the mix. He still needs more consistency and better health to force his way into a role, and his route to an NHL job is probably the toughest of the group.
Still, that’s exactly what makes him a dark horse. Portillo is not only chasing Kuemper and Forsberg, but also dealing with pressure from behind him, where Kings goalie prospects Hampton Slukynsky and Carter George are rising.
If Portillo stands out in training camp and the preseason over the next month or so this fall, or if injuries hit the crease, he could put himself in position for an NHL opportunity this season.
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