Rittich made 13 saves in a 4-1 win over Boston on Thursday.
The 32-year-old's best season came in 2018-19 when he went 27-9-5 with a 2.61 GAA and .911 save percentage in 42 starts for Calgary. Rittich has been in a back-up role since 2020-21, seeing time with five teams (Calgary, Toronto, Nashville, Winnipeg and now Los Angeles) over the last four years. He will play second fiddle this season to fellow newcomer Darcy Kuemper, but will deliver strong results inside the structure of one of the NHL's best team defenses.
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Kings' Quinton Byfield: Shift to center leads to success
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Byfield netted a hat trick Thursday in a 4-1 preseason win over Boston.
Byfield has been playing at center this preseason and is showing the NHL why he was drafted second overall (2020). On Thursday, the big man scored twice in 25 seconds in the second period. The first came on a beautiful one-timer on a 2-on-1 break with Kevin Fiala, and then Byfield smacked in a rebound from in tight. His third goal came on the power play in the third. Byfield has looked comfortable at pivot this season and seems to have chemistry with newcomer Warren Foegele and veteran Kevin Fiala. He hopes to build on his 20 goals and 35 assists from last year.
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Kings' David Rittich: Starting Thursday
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Rittich will defend the home crease versus the Bruins on Thursday, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
The two teams are in Quebec City for the exhibition contest. Rittich had a solid 2023-24 campaign, going 13-6-2 with a 2.15 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 24 regular-season games with the Kings as the backup to Cam Talbot. Talbot has moved on to Detroit, with LA acquiring Darcy Kuemper in the offseason, as their presumptive No. 1 goaltender this season.
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Kings' Jacob Moverare: Waived Tuesday
Rotowire
Moverare was put on waivers Tuesday for the purpose of assignment to AHL Ontario.
Moverare generated two goals and 16 assists in 34 regular-season contests for AHL Ontario in 2023-24. He also had one goal and 23 blocked shots in 24 NHL outings with the Kings during the 2023-24 regular season. If Moverare is not claimed by another team, he may see more playing time with LA in the upcoming campaign.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: In net versus Anaheim
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Kuemper will be in net for Monday's road exhibition game against the Ducks, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
Kuemper is battling with David Rittich for the No. 1 netminding gig after being acquired in a trade from Washington in June. The 34-year-old Kuemper was 13-14-3 with an .890 save percentage and a 3.31 GAA in 33 regular-season appearances with the Capitals in 2023-24.
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Kings' Jeff Malott: Goes on waivers
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Malott was put on waivers Monday, per PuckPedia.
Malott generated 22 goals and 52 points in 70 regular-season games for AHL Manitoba in 2023-24. He will probably spend most, if not all, of 2024-25 with AHL Ontario.
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Kings' Tyler Madden: Hits waiver wire
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Madden was placed on waivers Sunday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Madden registered 15 goals and 34 points in 71 regular-season contests for AHL Ontario in 2023-24. He added five goals and two assists in eight minor-league playoff outings. The 24-year-old forward doesn't have any NHL experience yet. Madden will likely spend most, if not all, of 2024-25 in the minors.
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Kings' Reilly Walsh: Lands on waivers
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Walsh was placed on waivers Sunday for assignment to AHL Ontario, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Walsh joined the Kings on a two-way deal in the offseason. The 25-year-old blueliner will likely spend most of the upcoming campaign with AHL Ontario, where he'll provide the Kings with some defensive depth.
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Kings' Joe Hicketts: Waived Sunday
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Hicketts was placed on waivers Sunday for assignment to AHL Ontario, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Hicketts has spent the last four seasons in the AHL. The 28-year-old blueliner last played in the NHL in 2019, when he had two assists in six games with the Red Wings.
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Kings' Glenn Gawdin: Waived by Kings
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Gawdin was placed on waivers Sunday for assignment to AHL Ontario, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Gawdin, who signed a two-way deal with the Kings in the offseason, figures to spend most of the upcoming campaign in the minors as a depth option. The 27-year-old Gawdin has one assist in 13 career NHL games.
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Kings' David Rittich: Facing Ducks
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Rittich will patrol the home crease in Saturday's exhibition matchup against Anaheim, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Rittich registered a 13-6-3 record with a 2.15 GAA and a .921 save percentage over 24 regular-season appearances with the Kings in 2023-24. He is expected to open the 2024-25 campaign as Darcy Kuemper's backup.
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Kings' Drew Doughty: Needs surgery, is month-to-month
Rotowire
Doughty will undergo surgery to repair a fractured ankle and is month-to-month, the team announced Friday.
The loss of Doughty can't be overstated for the Kings. He's a massive part of their blue line, averaging 25:48 of ice time last season, including 3:15 with the man advantage. He had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIM, 109 hits and 142 blocks across 82 regular-season appearances in 2023-24. With Doughty out for an extended period, Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke could receive expanded roles, including increased minutes on the power play.
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Kings' Drew Doughty: Suffers fractured ankle
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Doughty sustained a fractured ankle in Wednesday's preseason matchup, Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports.
Team doctors are still evaluating Doughty, so it's unclear what his exact timeline might be at this point, but he will likely face an extended stint on the shelf. The veteran blueliner's absence will create a significant gap on the Kings' blue line, one that is not likely to be filled by a single player. It's the 23-year-old Jordan Spence who could benefit the most if he can secure his spot on the No. 1 power-play unit in Doughty's absence.
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Kings' Drew Doughty: Exits preseason contest
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Doughty (lower body) won't return to Wednesday's preseason game versus the Golden Knights.
Doughty couldn't put any weight on his left leg after colliding into the boards in the first period. Given that it's preseason, the Kings quickly ruled him out for the remainder of the contest. Expect the team to be cautious with Doughty, as there's little point in risking further injury before the regular season begins. The Kings' next game is Saturday versus the Ducks.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Slated to start Wednesday
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Kuemper is set to start in Wednesday's preseason road game in Vegas, per Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider.
Kuemper was acquired by the Kings from Washington over the summer and is set to compete with David Rittich for starts. The 34-year-old Kuemper is coming off a rough campaign in which he posted a 13-14-3 record, 3.31 GAA and .890 save percentage in 33 regular-season appearances with the Capitals. He'll likely need to do meaningfully better than that to secure the starting gig over Rittich.
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Kings' Erik Portillo: In net Monday
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Portillo will guard the road crease in Monday's exhibition contest versus Utah, Jared Shafran of LA Kings Insider reports.
Portillo posted a 24-11-3 record with a 2.50 GAA and a .918 save percentage in 39 regular-season appearances with AHL Ontario in 2023-24. The 24-year-old will likely be limited to the AHL again in 2024-25 -- the Kings currently have three veteran netminders in training camp.
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Kings' Arthur Kaliyev: Out indefinitely
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Kaliyev is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured clavicle in Friday's practice, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports Sunday.
Kaliyev was injured during a scrimmage on Day 2 of training camp. A timeline for his return is unclear, but injuries of this nature can take 10-12 weeks to recover. With Kaliyev likely to miss the start of the 2024-25 campaign, Akil Thomas could earn a roster spot with the Kings for Opening Night.
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Kings' Arthur Kaliyev: Sits out practice
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Kaliyev (upper body) didn't practice Saturday after getting injured in Friday's scrimmage, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
Head coach Jim Hiller would only say Saturday that Kaliyev is "out" but didn't provide a timeline for the forward's return. The 23-year-old Kaliyev signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Kings on Wednesday. He notched seven goals and 15 points across 51 regular-season outings in 2023-24.
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Kings' Arthur Kaliyev: Inks one-year deal
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Kaliyev signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Kings on Wednesday, per John Hoven of SiriusXM NHL Network Radio.
Kaliyev had seven goals and 15 points in 51 regular-season contests with LA in 2023-24. He was a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract. Kaliyev is in the mix for a bottom-six spot with the Kings and would have to go through waivers if he doesn't make LA's Opening Night roster.
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Kings' Erik Portillo: Pens three-year pact
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Portillo signed a three-year, $2.35 million contract with the Kings on Sunday, per PuckPedia.
Portillo posted a 24-11-3 record with a 2.50 GAA and a .918 save percentage across 39 regular-season appearances for AHL Ontario in 2023-24. The 23-year-old netminder hasn't seen any NHL action yet. Portillo will likely spend most, if not all, of the 2024-25 campaign in the minors.
