Jean-Francois Berube returns to Kings on PTO contract

Call it a homecoming.

The Los Angeles Kings have signed goaltender Jean-François Bérubé to a professional tryout contract ahead of the 2023-24 NHL season.

Bérubé was originally drafted No. 95 overall by the Kings back in 2009. He spent the first four seasons of his professional hockey career with the Kings’ organization but never played in a game. Bérubé posted a 37-9-4 record with two shutouts with the Manchester Monarchs in his final year with the franchise.

The Repentigny, Quebec native made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders during the 2015-16, which started a three-year run where he bounced between the NHL and AHL. His last NHL action came during the 2021-22 season with Columbus, where he went 3-2-0 in six games.

The 32-year-old spent all of 2022-23 with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, registering an 8-6-3 record with one shutout and a .885 save percentage.

With Cam Talbot and Pheonix Copley leading the way, Bérubé will give the team some extra depth during training camp. The club has Erik Portillo and David Rittich signed to deals, with the chance for Bérubé to join the Ontario Reign in the AHL if needed.

Bérubé is one of four goaltenders signed to PTOs, with Aaron Dell (Columbus), Brandon Halverson (Dallas) and Dylan Wells (Nashville) being the others. The Kings haven’t signed any other players to PTOs this summer.