The Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday traded the rights to goalie prospect Erik Portillo to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The Sabres’ old regime drafted the Swede in the third round in 2019, 67th overall.
There had been speculation that Portillo, 22, would pass on signing with the Sabres and elect for free agency this summer.
The Sabres have rookie goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 23, earning most of the action in Buffalo. Meanwhile, goalie prospect Devon Levi, 21, is a junior at Northeastern and was named college hockey’s best goalie last season.
Levi, an acquisition by Adams, is expected to turn pro following this season and possibly start for the Rochester Americans next year.
The 6-foot-6, 224-pound Portillo, a junior at Michigan, has compiled a 19-10-2 record with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in 31 games this season.
