trade: The Los Angeles Kings have completed yet another amazing trade.
Carter George, 18, has officially signed with the Kings. The 18-year-old goalie signed a three-year entry-level contract with a $875K budget hit, the team said in a news release.
George, the 57th overall selection in the 2024 draft, had a breakout season in the Ontario Hockey League, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team and the Bobby Smith Trophy for Scholastic Player of the Year.
George, who started for the Owen Sound Attack, performed exceptionally well under pressure, recording a 23-21-6 record with a 3.30 GAA, a.907 SV%, and four shutouts. His 56 appearances topped all OHL goalies who were first-time draft eligible and placed third in the league.
NHL Central Scouting ranked George as the second-best North American goalie in the 2024 class, just ahead of Mikhail Yegorov of the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. Before George was taken off the board, Yegorov moved to the Devils’ nine picks. But the best goaltender wasn’t chosen either. That was Ilya Nabokov, who was selected by the Avalanche with the 38th pick overall after leading Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League to a league title and KHL Rookie of the Year.
George, an Ontario native from Thunder Bay, is still a few years away from being ready for the NHL. The next season, he’ll probably return to Owen Sound on loan from the Kings, delaying the start of his ELC until 2025–2026. The Kings are allowed to do this for two consecutive years because he is signing his rookie contract at the age of eighteen, therefore his contract could begin play in 2026–2027 and end in 2028–2029.
George, however, will only be the fourth goalkeeper signed for the Kings for the upcoming season, behind David Rittich, Pheonix Copley, and Darcy Kuemper. Once they reach an agreement with RFA Erik Portillo, the Kings will be able to address their netminding position for AHL Ontario. George, who is eighteen, cannot play a full-time role in the AHL this season and must return to his junior squad.
