The Los Angeles Kings announced that they have put Calvin Petersen on the waiver wire today, according to a tweet by Elliotte Friedman.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1598029617344155649
Kings Put Cal Petersen on Waivers
The day after a bizarre, high-scoring game at home, Kings management decided that enough was enough. The Kings have given up 90 goals in just 24 games, more than anyone in the Western Conference that isn’t the 16th-place Anaheim Ducks. Petersen has limited trade protection* which may have motivated the move to waivers.
Petersen had an excellent start to his NHL career with the Kings. His brilliant rookie season of 2018-19 happened just as incumbent Jonathan Quick suffered his worst statistical year since he played three games in 2007-08. Petersen was given a three-year deal on the strength of that opening year and did well. Despite a very weak team overall, he started 75 games and went 34-35-7 with a 2.78 goals-against average. The much older Quick recovered from his bad year, though not to the heights of his glory years. Petersen got his new three-year, $5 million contract and would see Quick to the door.
It was supposed to be a clear transfer from the master to his heir apparent. Unfortunately for all concerned, that hasn’t quite worked out as hoped. There were warning signs even in Petersen’s final year, with his save percentage dropping from .922 to .911 to 2021-22’s .895. Still, the team decided that was the aberration rather than the norm and signed him. This year, though, Petersen has continued to struggle. His save percentage is currently .868 and his goals against is 3.75 per game.
What Comes Next
Quick hasn’t been a whole lot better, either. The veteran is in the final year of his 10-year deal and has a .890 save percentage and is averaging 3.30 goals against. This is tough news for a team whose next young goalie is on season-opening injured reserve. Jacob Ingram underwent successful knee surgery in May, so the Kings options are limited. If Petersen is taken by another team or is sent down, then the likely replacement from in-house is veteran Pheonix Copley. Copley has 31 games of NHL experience under his belt through two teams and eight seasons, compared to the 22-year-old Matt Villalta.
On the other hand, Villalta is in his fourth season with the AHL Ontario Reign. Depending on how seriously the NHL team is taking this season, either AHL player could get a shot. But the safe money would be on Copley unless a deal is made for an NHL goaltender.
*Hat tip, as ever, to CapFriendly
Main photo:
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