It would likely be hard to find another NHL club with more upheaval between the pipes as Los Angeles has experienced over the past year. Both the legacy of Jonathan Quick and his heir apparent, Cal Petersen, have been traded away in just over a three-month span. The Kings have also said goodbye to former top goaltending prospect Lukas Parik. Add in a question mark surrounding the future of recently acquired Joonas Korpisalo, along with first-year pro David Hrenak committing to playing in the Czech Republic next season, and LA’s depth in net continues to be a murky situation.
As of this writing, only Phoenix Copley and Erik Portillo — who joined the organization in March via a trade with Buffalo — are the organization’s only two goalies under contract for 2023-24. That number could possibly grow by two depending on upcoming decisions GM Rob Blake will have to make surrounding pending Restricted Free Agents Jacob Ingham (who missed all of last season following back surgery) and Matt Villalta. They also have prospect Juho Markkanen, who will play in Europe next season.
Thus, it isn’t too much of a stretch to think the Kings will be looking to restock the cupboard in net. And what better way to begin than spending some draft capital?
There are over 40 goalies ranked by NHL Central Scouting for the 2023 NHL Draft. Below are 10 select goaltenders for LA to focus on when they arrive in Nashville for the league’s big event in two weeks. All candidates will be in alphabetical order by last name.
Trey Augustine, USNTDP, USA
6-foot-1, 179 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
NTDP: 29-1-2, 2.13 GAA, .926 SV%, 1 SO
U-20: 4-1-0, 2.85 GAA, .891 SV%, 0 SO
U-18: 6-0-0, 1.61 GAA, .934 SV%, 0 SO
Augustine is one of the top goaltenders expected to be taken in the draft. For first-year eligibility in the NHL Entry Draft, the Michigan native has quite an impressive resume. He has amassed back-to-back silver medals in the U-18 tournament as well as bronze for this year’s U-20 WJC. We’re expecting he’ll be gone before the Kings are ready to pick a goaltender, though it’s important to note the interest is still there.
Damien Clara, Färjestad BK J20, Italy
6-foot-6, 207 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
J20 Nationell: 17-17-0, 2.79 GAA, .903 SV%, 0 SO
U20 D1B: 3-2-0, 2.58 GAA, .917 SV%, 0 SO
U18 D1B: 3-1-0, 1.25 GAA, .954 SV%, 0 SO
Los Angeles is no stranger to players with unusual histories. They drafted the first Slovenian player (Kopitar), drafted the first Japanese goaltender (Fukufuji), plus drafted and developed the NHL’s first French goalie (Cristobal Huet). Assuming he is claimed at the Draft, Clara will be just the sixth player in general and the first goaltender ever selected from Italy. Most of last year, though, he honed his skills in the Swedish junior league.
Jacob Fowler, Youngstown Phantoms, USA
6-foot-2, 201 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
USHL: 27-9-3, 2.28 GAA, .921 SV%, 5 SO
Committed to Boston College, the lanky netminder put up quite a heroic season. His international resume is non-existent, yet everyone in the USHL knows the Fowler name. Among other accolades, he won Goaltender of the Year, Clark Cup MVP, and a Clark Cup Championship (the USHL’s version of the Stanley Cup).
Adam Gajan, Chippewa Steel, Slovakia
6-foot-3, 176 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
NAHL: 19-12-1, 2.57 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO
USHL: 5-1-0, 2.48 GAA, .906 SV%, 1 SO
U-20: 2-2-0, 2.40 GAA, .936 SV%, 1 SO
Gajan had an unassuming start to the season. The native of Poprad, Slovakia, started the 2022-23 season playing in the NAHL’s Chippewa Steel. Scouting circles took notice in December, however, when he strapped on the pads for his home country in the World Junior Championship. During this tournament, he earned recognition for being the top goaltender.
Alexander Hellnemo, Skellefteå AIK, Sweden
6-foot-2, 183 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
J20 Nationell: 15-8-0, 2.32 GAA, .916 SV%, 2 SO
SHL: 5-3-0, 2.39 GAA, .895 SV%, 0 SO
The German-born goaltender is getting another opportunity this year at the draft table, after being passed up last year. All of the year was spent in Sweden, yet learning the names of his teammates must be tough. Since September, he would get reassigned and play a game in a different league up to 20 times, shuffling between the SHL, J20 Nationell, Allsvenskan, and international play.
Juha Jatkola, KalPa, Finland
6-foot-1, 176 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
Liiga: 20-11-8, 2.16 GAA, .903 SV%, 5 SO
A goalie passed over twice at the draft, this is his last opportunity to go through the draft. While less heralded than the previously listed goalies, he backstopped KalPa to a fifth place 105-point season as the team’s starter, while playing in Finland’s top league.
Quentin Miller, Quebec Remparts, Canada
6-foot-3, 181 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
QMJHL: 14-4-0, 2.11 GAA, .911 SV%, 2 SO
Miller is a bit of a harder read compared to the other players, as this season was spent being a rookie backup. A championship in the QMJHL and Memorial Cup taught him quickly how to win. Look for Miller to get more ice time next season, however, as Quebec’s starter will be an overager.
His head coach with the Remparts is legendary NHL goalie Patrick Roy.
Kristers Steinbergs, Valbo HC J18, Denmark
6-foot-4, 198 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
J18 Region: 11-14-0, 2.76 GAA, .922 SV%, 2 SO
U20 D1A: 1-4-0, 3.77 GAA, .871 SV%, 0 SO
U18 D1A: 4-1-0, 2.18 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO
An unseen early riser has fallen below the radar again. Born in Riga, Latvia, most of his early career was actually spent in Denmark – even making the U-17 team as a 12 year-old. He backstopped the Danes to a silver medal in the U-18 Division 1A WJC.
Tomas Suchanek, Tri-City Americans, Czechia
6-foot-2, 181 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
WHL: 27-14-1, 3.05 GAA, .912 SV%, 1 SO
U20: 5-2-0, 1.52 GAA, .934 SV%, 1 SO
Arguably the most world-known draft-eligible prospect tending the net, the Czech-born player is in his final year of draft eligibility. Backstopping Czechia through multiple world junior tournaments, including silver this year, Suchanek has also spent the past two seasons playing for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans
Noa Vali, TPS U20, Finland
6-foot-0, 154 lbs, Catches: L
2022-23 Season Statistics
U20 SM-sarja: 17-8-0, 2.38 GAA, .912 SV%, 3 SO
U18: 1-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .867 SV%, 0 SO
Compared to the rest of the goalies on this list, Vali is diminutive as he stands at 6-feet-0 and 154 lbs. His draft profile is straightforward: first year of draft eligibility, played this most recent season as a starter at Finland’s junior level, with a minimal amount of experience playing against international competition.
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Lead photo of Suchanek via IIHF
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