Official (via ORI) Gravel, Budaj to LA; Ehrhoff to Ontario

Via Reign Insider Lindsay Czarnecki, Kevin Gravel and Peter Budaj have been officially recalled by the Kings – Budaj on an emergency basis – and Ehrhoff has joined the Reign.

It’s been a busy 24 hours for the Kings organization and the moves that are made up top have had a trickle-down effect on the Reign roster. Now, we can officially report that Reign defenseman has been recalled to the Kings and goalie Peter Budaj is up on an emergency recall. Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff cleared waivers and will join the Reign.

–Kings goalie Jonathan Quick was injured late in Tuesday’s 9-2 win in Boston and is “day-to-day” according to what head coach Darryl Sutter told LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen both on Wednesday at Thursday. As a result, Budaj has now officially been brought up as an emergency recall. Budaj, 33, has been the Reign’s consummate MVP this season, and if not for just the team but perhaps the entire AHL. Prior to the recall he was leading the league in goals against average (1.53), save percentage (.935) and shutouts (8). The former NHL netminder recently posted back-to-back-to-back shutouts, has been in net for 26 of Ontario’s 28 wins and was an All-Star selection. The list goes on. With Budaj out of the Reign lineup the net belongs to Michael Houser, who played in just his second Reign game in a 4-2 loss on Wednesday night in San Jose. This is Budaj’s first recall to the Kings.

–Ehrhoff cleared waivers on Thursday morning and has now been reassigned to the Reign. With that move, as expected, Gravel is getting his first NHL call-up. Reign head coach Mike Stothers said on Wednesday that the team and coaching staff is, “just thrilled,” for Gravel, who did not play Wednesday but previously was in the lineup for all 42 games. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound blue liner out of St. Cloud State has five goals and eight assists, second among Reign defensemen behind Vincent LoVerde. He’s been, “efficient” and “reliable,” according to Stothers and is known more for his consistent play but has found a knack this season for scoring goals in the clutch (two OT winners). Zach Leslie took his spot in the lineup on Wednesday but that’s likely now to be reserved for Ehrhoff, who will wear No. 10 with Ontario.

The Reign did not practice on Thursday and resume game action on Friday when they host the Bakersfield Condors at 7 p.m.