The Los Angeles Kings have re-signed goaltender Pheonix Copley to a one-year, one-way contract extension worth $775,000, per the team. The goaltender has been with the club for three seasons, and now he’s locked in with the Kings for another year. Copley has primarily been a backup goaltender in his NHL career, but he has also had experience as the full-time starter for the Kings a couple of seasons ago.
A Fine Depth Signing for the Los Angeles Kings
This is a fine depth signing for the Kings. Copley has been a fringe NHL backup and AHL goaltender throughout his entire career. The most appearances he has ever made in a season were in 2022-2023, when he appeared in 37 games and posted a very serviceable 24-6-3 record with a .903 save percentage.
The last two seasons have been way below league average, but he showed during that stint that he can be a viable goalie for a stretch. Since Copley is on a one-way contract, he’ll probably get into some games. A one-way contract means that the player receives the same salary outlined in their NHL and AHL contracts, regardless of whether they are assigned to the NHL or AHL. No matter where Copley plays, he will get his $775,000 salary no matter what.
There is a Chance Copley Could Be The Backup
Unless the Los Angeles Kings sign a goaltender before training camp, Copley could end up being the backup goalie to start the season. Backup goalie David Rittich is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it’s unknown if the Kings would like to keep him or not. Rittich is 32 years old and went 16-14-2 with a .887 save percentage last year as the Kings’ backup. He would be a cost-effective option if the Kings wanted to bring him back, but maybe Los Angeles considers Copley’s successful stretch a few seasons ago, which could convince them that he’s suitable as the backup goalie.
Final Thoughts
NHL teams need a good backup, but it’s not the end of the world if the goalie isn’t a star. The Los Angeles Kings have had issues with goaltending in the past, so they hope Kuemper and potentially Copley can be the answer. So, what’s next for the Los Angeles Kings and Copley? Stay tuned for the latest updates here at Total Apex Sports.
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