A move that had been anticipated for months is now on the books: Los Angeles Kings prospect Adam Goljer has signed with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs for the 2026-27 season.
Kingston made the announcement Thursday, confirming that the 18-year-old defenseman will head to North America after spending the 2025-26 season at home with HK Dukla Trencin in Slovakia’s top men’s league. Goljer had originally been taken by the Frontenacs with the 117th pick in the second round of the 2025 CHL Import Draft, but he chose to remain in Slovakia rather than join Kingston right away.
For the Kings, Goljer is the kind of blue-line prospect that stands out fast. Los Angeles selected him 49th overall in the second round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, and he arrives with a season of professional experience already on his résumé. In 43 games with HK Dukla Trencin, he produced four goals, seven assists and 11 points, which was the most by any player 17 or younger in Slovakia’s top men’s league this past season.
Goljer also spent the year in major international play for Slovakia, appearing at the 18-U World Championships and the World Juniors. He wore the captain’s letter for Slovakia at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 18U World Championships, where he helped his team win silver. In seven games at the 18U Worlds, he posted two goals, three assists and five points, while also taking home Best Defenseman honors and a spot on the all-tournament team.
That mix of production, leadership and experience against older competition is a big part of why the Kings were drawn to him in the draft. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Goljer already brings NHL size for a right-shot defenseman, along with the reach, physical edge and patience to defend cleanly and make smart puck decisions in transition.
His mobility and two-way game are just as important to his profile. He has shown confidence joining the rush, moving the puck north and using his skating to recover defensively and close space. Kingston gives him a new test now: a first season in North America, a smaller rink and the chance to take on a significant role on the Frontenacs’ blue line.
In Other News...
Kevin Fiala Faces A Big Kings Question After Shortened Season
Kevin Fialas season ended earlier than the Kings would have liked, and it came at a time when he had already given them plenty of offense. Before the injury, he had posted 18 goals and 40 points in 56 games, a pace that kept him among the more reliable drivers of Los Angeles attack as the year wore on.
Now the bigger issue is what comes next as he works his way into the 2026-27 season coming off the injury. The Kings are counting on Fiala to be ready to slot back into a key role and help anchor the clubs second forward line, a spot that carries real weight for a team looking to stay balanced and dangerous up front. [Read more 🡒]
Erik Portillo Is Giving The Kings A Real Backup Goalie Decision
Erik Portillo has quietly worked his way into a conversation the Kings probably hoped they would not have to rush. The 25-year-old is the primary goaltender for the Ontario Reign, has already gotten into one NHL game for Los Angeles this season, and turned in solid numbers in the AHL during the 2025-26 campaign. With Darcy Kuemper under contract as the starter through 2026-27, the bigger question for the Kings is not at the top of the depth chart but behind it.
Portillos path has given the organization something more interesting than simple organizational insurance. He is now a legitimate candidate for the backup job in 2026-27, where he would be competing with Anton Forsberg for a role that could matter more than it first appears if the Kings want stability and upside behind Kuemper. For a team trying to map out its goaltending picture beyond the immediate season, Portillo has turned a routine developmental storyline into a real decision. [Read more 🡒]