Prospect Rewind: Portillo earned Goalie of the Year honors in USHL

Erik Portillo has enjoyed success on both sides of the ocean during the past two seasons.

Portillo led the SuperElit league in Sweden in goals-against average (1.99) and save percentage (.931) in 2018-19, earning a selection by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round of last summer's draft. He had gone undrafted one year prior.

This season saw Portillo play his first North American campaign with similar results. He went 19-5-1 for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, led the USHL with a 2.11 goals-against average and won the league's Goaltender of the Year award. While he did not appear in a game at the IIHF World Junior Championship, he benefitted from being on a talented Swedish roster.

Next year will bring a new challenge. The 19-year-old is slated to begin his NCAA career at the University of Michigan in the fall.

"Erik had a great season," Sabres assistant general manager Steve Greeley said. "I think it's another example of Seamus Kotyk working extremely well with one of our goalies. We've seen it with Luukkonen and now we're seeing it with Portillo. It seemed like a seamless transition into the USHL. He was also on that Swedish World Junior team, which was a great experience, just being part of that group. We're really excited with his development.

"He's playing in new arenas, he's playing in smaller arenas, he's facing just a brand of hockey he wasn't used to. I think it's prepared him extremely well for the University of Michigan, which we know will help prepare him for the Buffalo Sabres."

Sabres.com caught up with Portillo to discuss his season.

What was the adjustment like coming to North America?

"Coming to the smaller rinks, first off the angles are different. The rink is smaller, so everything changes more or less. But I would say the biggest change is the pressure on the net with bounces along the boards. The shooters don't have as much time to make a move or make a deke, so it's more shots here. It's a shooter's mentality more here than on the bigger ice, I would say. I think that's the biggest difference, the pressure on the net. It's people shooting the puck instead of making a move."

Is that something you learned as you went along, or did you prepare for it during the summer?

"First off, I had development camp where I more or less realized it. But I also know that is what people always talk about, like the difference being on the small ice to the big ice. It's more pressure on the net and it's more traffic in front and rebounds and stuff. It's just more aggressive, I would say, around the crease."

As a goaltender, is it then a matter of having to battle more?

"Yeah, I would say so. For me, I read the play a lot. I think one of my strengths in my game is how I see the game and how I think the game. I had to rethink it a little bit. Expect the shooter to shoot instead of making a deke in different situations. That was the thing that took me a while to learn, when the shooters would shoot and when they would make a move. It's something I'm still working on, of course."

What was the learning curve like once the season began?

"Of course, it was a learning curve. Coming in from Sweden, it is a big difference. However, I came into a really good team with great coaching. I had [Mike Bales] down in Buffalo, the goaltender coach there, and I also had Seamus [Kotyk], the goalie development coach from Buffalo. We speak a lot. We speak at least once or twice every week. They really helped me adjust as fast as possible. And it's great working with an American goalie coach who knows what the difference is and knows what to do on the smaller rink. So, they really helped me out."

What kind of feed back do you receive from Seamus?

"He's awesome. He helps me with everything from nutrition to workouts. More or less, he connects me with nutrition people but he also helps me with the mental parts. I have spoken to the Buffalo Sabres mental coach a lot, nutrition coach, strength coaches. He helps me to connect with those people. He really helps me to get through the American lifestyle and get adjusted as fast as possible."

What was that part of it like away from the ice?

"I think I was very lucky. First off, I had Kalle Larsson, the general manager in Dubuque. He was the one who brought me in and he's also from Gothenburg, so he was great with me. He really helped me out. And then Oliver David, the coach, and the coaching staff did a terrific job to help me adjust and give me all the tools I needed. And then finally, which I feel is the biggest reason, is my billets. I lived with another player, Riese Gaber. They really helped me out every day. I could talk with them, they made great food for me, and I had a great room to live in. So, they made that transition so easy for me and I'm very thankful for what they did."

What did you take from the experience of being on the World Junior roster?

"Being around those guys and practicing brings up the speed in you as well. A lot of those guys play on the next level, where I want to get. It really helps me understand the game, how it works, and see a high level of play."

You went from going undrafted to leading the SuperElit league in goals-against average, being drafted by the Sabres, and having the same success in the USHL. How have you processed these last two years?

"You know, my goal is the next one right now, and that's Michigan. To be in the best shape of my life when I get to Michigan for my freshman year there. I know that the college level is a very high level of play, so trying to process it all, I'm just trying to focus on the next thing I want to do and that's being as ready as possible for Michigan because I know that is where I can take the next step in my career. I hope I can come in and make a difference."

By the numbers

.915 - Portillo's save percentage, which ranked third in the USHL.

2.11 - Portillo's goals-against average led the USHL.

19 - Portillo allowed two goals or fewer in 19 different appearances.