Pro Drills: Kings Motion Warm Up
Key Takeaways
- Kings goaltending coach Mike Buckley introduced 'motion' warm-up drills to LA's goalies in 2024-25 after eight years in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
- The drill targets segmentation — the tendency for a goalie's head to move first while the body lags behind — by syncing eye tracking and body movement to the next shot location.
- Cam Talbot confirms that 'motion' has always been a natural part of his game, even before it was formally named and coached.
- This warm-up drill is considered fundamental and suitable for goalies at any age or skill level, not just NHL professionals.
- Buckley cues goalies to 'lead them with it' on the second shot so eyes and body arrive at the save position at the same time, improving reaction efficiency.
At first glance, this Los Angeles Kings goalie drill before a recent practice in Vancouver looks like a lot of others around the NHL, a mixture of simple skating with some shots mixed in to help Cam Talbot and David Rittich get their legs and hands moving.
That’s certainly part of it but look closer and you’ll see it’s not the only “motion” involved:
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Less than a few skate sharpenings
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