Kings Reassign Pheonix Copley, Recall Carter George

The Kings loaned goaltender Pheonix Copley to AHL Ontario on Thursday, per a team announcement. In his place, the team summoned goalie prospect Carter George from the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds to serve as their emergency backup goaltender for the balance of the postseason.

Copley heads down to Ontario to serve as their veteran starting option for the Calder Cup Playoffs. Ontario had finished high enough in their division to earn a bye through the first round, but since their Pacific Semifinal series will get underway soon, the Kings have opted to return Copley there to make sure their minor-league club can field the best roster possible, similar to the Lightning’s demotion of Brandon Halverson earlier Thursday.

Copley’s stint as L.A.’s EBUG for Games 1 and 2 against the Avalanche marked his first time on the NHL roster since the calendar flipped to 2026. The 34-year-old vet made one start back in December, allowing three goals on 28 shots for a .893 SV% in a loss to the Kraken. It was his first NHL start since undergoing ACL surgery in December 2023, although he did make one relief appearance for the Kings last season.

A pending unrestricted free agent, it’s unclear if L.A. plans to retain Copley for what would be his fifth season in the organization (aside from a brief stint with the Lightning at the beginning of this year after being lost on waivers). They have George, their #1 prospect, plus serviceable 25-year-old Erik Portillo under contract through next year, leaving their AHL duo likely set in stone.

If Copley still wants a high AHL workload and expanded call-up opportunities, he’ll likely need to look elsewhere on the open market. In 33 regular-season games for Ontario this season, he managed a .901 SV%, 2.59 GAA, a 21-11-1 record, and one shutout.

George, who doesn’t turn 20 until next month, just wrapped up his fourth and final junior season. A midseason pickup from the struggling Owen Sound Attack, George’s .910 SV% in 10 postseason games fueled the Greyhounds to a major upset over the London Knights in the first round, although they were dispatched just as quickly by Kitchener in five games in round two last week.

A second-rounder in 2024, George already has several accolades in his trophy case. He won a bronze medal as Canada’s starter at this year’s World Juniors, and he was one of the best goalies in the tournament last year as well, despite an early upset by the Czechs in the quarterfinals. Goalies rarely, if ever, make the jump straight from juniors to the NHL, so he’s ticketed for time in Ontario next season. Already having signed his entry-level contract, he is prohibited from taking the college route.