Kings Trade for Pheonix Copley to Bolster Goaltending Depth

The **Los Angeles Kings** have successfully reacquired veteran goalie **Pheonix Copley** from the **Tampa Bay Lightning** in a move aimed at enhancing their goaltending depth. This trade comes as the Kings navigate the absence of **Darcy Kuemper**, who is sidelined due to a lower-body injury. The Kings secured Copley in exchange for future considerations, marking his return to the organization where he previously spent three years.

Copley, now 33 years old, had a notable tenure with the Kings, playing 42 games last season for the **AHL’s Ontario Reign**. He started 35 games for Los Angeles during the **2022-23 NHL season** before missing a significant portion of the current season following knee surgery. His experience is expected to provide crucial support as the Kings deal with injuries.

The **Lightning** had claimed Copley off waivers earlier this month, prompted by concerns about the health of their starter **Andrei Vasilevskiy**, who faced injury issues during training camp. Vasilevskiy ultimately returned to form, participating in Tampa Bay’s season opener. With the Lightning’s goalkeeping situation stabilizing, they allowed Copley to return to the Kings, a team familiar with his capabilities.

In Kuemper’s absence, **Anton Forsberg** is positioned as the primary backup. Forsberg has started in the only victory for the Kings this season, which currently stands at a record of 1-2-1. Both Kuemper and Kings captain **Anze Kopitar** missed practice on Wednesday due to their respective lower-body injuries, underscoring the team’s need for additional goaltending support.

Looking ahead, Forsberg appears likely to start when the Kings host the **Pittsburgh Penguins** on **October 26, 2023**. As the team navigates this challenging period, the reacquisition of Copley may provide the depth necessary for a competitive edge in upcoming games.