Erik Portillo (born 3 September 2000) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Portillo was drafted in the third round, 67th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL entry draft.
Portillo played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2019âÂÂ20 season. He appeared in 27 games and posted a 19âÂÂ5âÂÂ1 record, leading the USHL with a 2.11 goals against average (GAA), and a .915 save percentage. Following the season he was named first team All-USHL and named the USHL Goaltender of the Year.
Portillo began his collegiate career for the University of Michigan during the 2020âÂÂ21 season. During his freshman season, he appeared in seven games and posted a 4âÂÂ1âÂÂ0 record with a 1.67 GAA and .935 save percentage. He made his collegiate debut for Michigan on 3 December 2020, in relief of Strauss Mann, stopping 15 of 17 shots in a 9âÂÂ5 loss against Penn State. He made his first career start on 15 January 2021, making 19 saves in a 4âÂÂ2 victory against Ohio State.
During the 2021âÂÂ22 season, his sophomore season, Portillo posted a 31âÂÂ10âÂÂ1 record with a 2.14 GAA and a .926 save percentage in his first full season as a starter. He led the nation in saves (1,111) and ranked second in wins (31) and minutes played (2,499), fourth in win percentage (.750) and ninth in save percentage (.926). He posted his first career shutout on 28 October 2021, in a 3âÂÂ0 victory against Wisconsin, stopping all 28 shots he faced. During the 2022 Big Ten tournament, he posted a 4âÂÂ0 record with a .928 save percentage, and also recorded 90 saves on 95 shots he faced during the tournament. He was subsequently named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team and named tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Following the season he was named second-team All-Big Ten, a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award and a finalist for the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year.
On 9 April 2022, Portillo announced he would return to Michigan for his junior year for the 2022âÂÂ23 season. During his junior season, he posted a 25âÂÂ11âÂÂ2 record with a 3.00 GAA and a .908 save percentage and helped lead the Wolverines to their second consecutive Big Ten tournament championship and Frozen Four appearance. He finished his collegiate career with a 60âÂÂ22âÂÂ3 overall record, 2.49 GAA, and a .918 save percentage.
Portillo was drafted in the third round, 67th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL entry draft. He announced he would not sign with the Sabres and would pursue unrestricted free agency after his college career at Michigan. On 1 March 2023, the Sabres traded his draft rights to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick.
On 10 April 2023, Portillo signed an amateur tryout contract (ATO) with the Kings' AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. On 22 April, the Kings signed Portillo to a two-year, entry-level contract through the 2023âÂÂ24 season. During the 2023âÂÂ24 season, in his rookie season, he appeared in 39 games with the Reign and posted a 24âÂÂ11âÂÂ3 record with a 2.50 GAA and .918 save percentage. His 24 wins were the most by a rookie goaltender in franchise history.
On 25 August 2024, Portillo signed a three-year contract extension with the Kings through the 2026âÂÂ27 season. Portillo began the 2024âÂÂ25 season with the Reign, where he appeared in six games and posted a 4âÂÂ2âÂÂ0 record with a 2.68 GAA and .906 save percentage. On 15 November 2024, he was recalled by the Kings on an emergency basis after placing starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper on the injured reserve. He made his NHL debut on 29 November 2024 in a game against the Anaheim Ducks, making 28 saves in a 2âÂÂ1 victory to record his first career NHL win. During the third period, Portillo's skate blade was dislodged and forced him out of the game for 1:23, David Rittich entered in relief before being replaced by Portillo following the equipment fix.
Portillo represented Sweden at the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and won a bronze medal.