The Los Angeles Kings have signed goaltender Matthew Villalta to a three-year entry-level contract, Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake announced on April 27.
The 18-year-old Villalta (born on June 3, 1999) is a 6-2, 181-pound native of Kingston, Ontario, who appeared in 49 regular-season games this year with Sault Ste. Marie, posting a 40-5-2-2 record, .908 save percentage, 2.58 goal-against average and three shutouts.
Villalta led the OHL in wins and goals-against average, ranked tied for third in shutouts, and ranked 11th in save percentage.
He is currently in the middle of the Western Conference Final with the Greyhounds, where they are tied 2-2, heading into Game 5 tonight.
He has started all 15 games during the postseason, posting a 10-4 record, .893 save percentage, 3.24 goals-against average and one shutout.
A third-round (72nd overall) selection of the Kings at the 2017 NHL Draft, Villalta has appeared 82 career regular-season games in the Ontario Hockey League, all with Sault Ste. Marie.
He has posted a 65-8-2-2 record, .912 save percentage, 2.52 goals-against average and four shutouts.
In 17 postseason games he has registered an 11-5 record, .888 save percentage, 3.34 goals-against average and one shutout.
