It seemed like a routine transaction when the Kings, seemingly secure with Jonathan Quick as their No. 1 goaltender and freshly minted Stanley Cup champion Jeff Zatkoff slotted into the backup role, waived Peter Budaj in order to reassign him to the minor leagues on Oct. 3. Budaj, who had signed with the Kings as a free agent in 2015 and had recently turned 34, seemed destined to finish out his career in the American Hockey League.
But fate intervened when Quick injured his groin in the season opener and Zat-koff twice experienced groin problems.