Do the LA Kings Take a Big Shot at Bobrovsky, Skinner for the 2026-27 Season?
First, it was Rogie Vachon. Then Kelly Hrudey. Then Jonathan Quick.
The Los Angeles Kings have had some superior goaltending performances and have become elite goaltenders. The last one was Quick, who went above and beyond to get the Kings’ two Stanley Cups.
Now the Kings need solid goaltending to get them past the first round of the playoffs.
Will Kings GM Ken Holland be looking outside of Los Angeles for the answer?
Los Angeles is running thin on starting and backup goaltenders as well as future starters. Darcy Kuemper returned to the Kings and had them a Vezina Trophy-caliber season, then went missing this past season. Anton Forsberg was good in stints, but did not give the team that stud of a goaltender to get them past round one.
Holland may be forced to go outside and bring someone in who can take this team to the next level.
Two names rumored to be available include Stuart Skinner and Sergei Bobrovsky.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky is the older of the two but has accomplished much more. He is a free agent after the upcoming season and had a $10 million average annual value (AAV) on his last deal. This season, Bobrovsky went 27-22-1 with a 3.07 goals against average and a .877 save percentage. Not his best season, but the Florida Panthers struggled as a whole. If he is brought in to be the guy, he will be brought in for his accomplishments—two Vezina Trophies for the league’s best goaltender.
Two Stanley Cups, a 61-50 record with a .907 save percentage and a 2.71 goals against average in 117 playoff games. Not to mention, Bobrovsky has been in the playoffs in nine of his past 10 seasons. It may be a gamble, but this may be the guy to take them deep in the playoffs.
Stuart Skinner
Skinner has not accomplished as much as Bobrovsky, but he has been a solid starter for most of his career. He is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and had a $2.6 million deal on his last contract. The former Edmonton Oiler and Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender posted a 23-17-9 record with a 2.92 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage, including two shutouts between the two teams. He knows Los Angeles all too well from his time with Edmonton.
The 27-year-old Skinner was a 2023 All-Star and has 53 playoff games to his credit, posting a 26-25 record with a 2.89 goals against average and a .892 save percentage. Skinner is cheaper and younger but lacks postseason success. With a few more roster additions, the move to bring Skinner in may be a steal.
Goaltending was a problem this past season, but it was not the only problem. Kuemper did not play to his full capabilities, but is under contract until 2027-28 with a $5.25 AAV.
The Kings need stability more than anything, and either of the two goaltenders listed above would get the job done. Prospect Erik Portillo is not yet ready to be an NHL regular, and Phoenix Copley is a UFA.
The Kings do have a projected cap space of %18.48 for next season, and things could get interesting for the goaltending position.
Discover more from Los Angeles Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categorized:Kings