The Kings announced they’ve placed starting goalie Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve. Pheonix Copley was recalled from the AHL’s Ontario Reign to take his place on the active roster.
Kuemper left last night’s 4-1 loss to the Stars late in the first period after taking head contact from Dallas winger Mikko Rantanen, who was attempting to cut across the top of the crease between Kuemper and L.A. defender Brian Dumoulin. Dallas scored on the play, but the goal was waved off as the puck deflected in from behind the net off an already-injured Kuemper, who was lying facedown in the crease holding his head.
The 35-year-old Kuemper stopped all five shots he faced before leaving the contest, bumping his SV% up to .917 on the year. That’s a few points south of the .921 mark that earned him his first career Vezina Trophy nomination last year, but the 2022 Stanley Cup champion continues to perform at a top-10 level as he resurrects his career in Hollywood. Behind his 10-6-6 record in 23 starts, his 16.0 goals saved above expected are fifth in the NHL, according to MoneyPuck. That’s the highest mark among Pacific Division netminders.
His backup, free-agent pickup Anton Forsberg, has been less inspiring. Through his first 10 appearances as a King, he’s put together a 4-3-3 record with a .893 SV% and 2.82 GAA. That’s still good for 1.1 goals above expected, receiving a slightly more demanding workload than Kuemper has, but a significant dropoff – particularly if Kuemper is set to miss more than the two games he’s been ruled out of, thanks to the IR placement. He’ll be eligible for reinstatement on Dec. 22 against the Blue Jackets.
Copley, 33, hasn’t seen NHL ice yet this season. The Alaska native is in his fourth season in the Kings organization, outside of a 13-day stay on the Lightning roster in October after being lost on waivers before being traded back to L.A. for future considerations. He successfully passed through waivers a second time after being reacquired but has struggled in the AHL, logging a .885 SV% and 3.13 GAA in 13 appearances for Ontario.
Nonetheless, few third-string options have more NHL experience than Copley. The Michigan Tech alum made his NHL debut with the Blues back in 2015-16 and has since gone on to record a 44-16-8 record, .898 SV%, 2.84 GAA, and three shutouts in 77 games.
Rants strikes again he now has injured a 2nd player – long term.
And once again nothing happens to this piece of excrement after repeated incidents. This @sshole has no respect for other players’ safety including his own former teammates now. If the NHL keeps turning a blind eye on this then I hope someone really smokes him on the ice and sends him to the IR long term!!
Rantenan continues his dirty play with no consequences… its obvious Betman has told his staff what team is to win the cup this year.
LOL
Gary Bettman works for all NHL owners. Why would he pick 1 team of 32 and favor them to win the Cup, and why would the other owners agree go along?
Rantanen was pushed in by Dumoulin. That said, I think forwards know exactly what they’re doing when they cut across the crease, hoping to get bumped like that and “accidentally” collide with the goalie.
It’s not outright dirty, and lots of players do it, but if it’s my goalie getting hit I absolutely hate it. Doubt any supplemental discipline comes from this though.
At first I thought he was pushed into him, but the replay showed not only was he not pushed, he raised his elbow to make contact to the head. I get how the officials missed it–it was very fast. I don’t get how the Dept of Player Safety isn’t looking at it.
here come the sawfties. mikko is dirty blah blah blah
Not saying he’s dirty, but the raised elbow to the head was. And why is it “soft” to call a dirty play dirty? Do you like to see players injured?
He does lead the league in Penalty minutes!