Ontario Reign: The Second and Third Year Players

The Reign have four players who are in their second or third year since turning pro. How are they doing? Has any progress been made? Let’s talk about them!

Forwards

Francesco Pinelli

Stat line: 29 games, 9 goals, 7 assists, 16 points, +5 rating

Francesco Pinelli was a prospect I was interested in seeing play in the AHL two years ago during his final season in juniors. His first year as a pro went as expected with bumps in the road in the first half having to play wing and center throughout the lineup while being a healthy scratch for five games early on. The second half was much better as he started to carve out a role and look comfortable.

After another slow start, Pinelli has turned it around. Since December 3rd, Pinelli has recorded 10 points (7 G, 3 A) in 12 games, including a streak where he recorded at least one goal in four straight games. He has also averaged three shots on goal per game and played responsibly defensively in that stretch. In his last seven games, the Reign have outscored their opponents at five-on-five when Pinelli has been on the ice (6-2). Pinelli has also seen time on the Reign’s second power-play unit and penalty kill. Let’s see if he can continue his strong December into January and make a case for a call-up this season or next.

Martin Chromiak

Stat line: 29 games, 5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points, +/- 0 rating

Disappointing is the word to use for Martin Chromiak’s season. Chromiak, 22, was once a prospect Kings fans had high hopes for when the organization had the number-one prospect pool; now that hype has diminished.

Chromiak has been playing on the same line with Pinelli for the last 15 games but hasn’t produced. Chromiak has six points in that span and one goal in the last 19 games. That’s not going to cut it. The lack of putting the puck in the net has been an issue — his best attribute when he was drafted — is something Marco Sturm alluded to after Saturday’s game against the Firebirds, a game where Chromiak had five shots on goal but couldn’t convert.

15 goals in each of the previous two seasons to five through nearly 30 games is not the progression anyone probably wants to see. The young forward is a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Defenseman

Cole Krygier

Stat line: 7 games, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, -2 rating

Cole Krygier has only played in seven games, so I will keep this one short. Krygier hasn’t played since November 30th and it’s unclear whether he is a healthy scratch or injured. Either way, it’ll be tough to insert him into the lineup consistently with Joe Hicketts, Caleb Jones, Angus Booth, and Jakub Dvorak ahead of him on the depth chart. I don’t see him having a future with LA.

Goalie

Erik Portillo

Stat line: 13 games, 13 starts, 9-3-0-1 record, 2.58 GAA, .907 sv%, 0 shutouts

The season started slow for Erik Portillo and an illness also took him out for three games. Since November 13th (nine games), Portillo has allowed two goals or less in five games and three or less in seven. His save percentage in that span is .921. Now, what about next year? Darcy Kuemper is under contract through the 2026-27 season, but David Rittich’s contract expires after this season.

If Portillo keeps progressing well and overall game continues to improve, that spot could be open for him next season if Rob Blake or whoever is in charge decides to go that route and opt not to bring back Rittich or look for external options.