Goaltender Darcy Kuemper and the Los Angeles Kings are no strangers to each other.
Kuemper played briefly with the Kings in the 2017-18 season and was successful in limited action.
Back between the Kings’ pipes, Kuemper looks to make a statement the second time around.
Will this be the time he leads Los Angeles to the promised land?
Kings, Kuemper Look for Playoff Success
The 6-foot-6 and 215-pound Kuemper was a sixth-round pick (161st overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was solid and had success, but he did not last long in the Minnesota system, as he was traded to the Kings during the 2017-18 season. With the Kings, he posted an impressive 10-1-3 record with a .932 save percentage, a 2.10 goals-against-average, and three shutouts. He bounced around the league a bit before signing as a free agent with the Washington Capitals one year after winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche.
Last season with the Capitals, he had an average year in the crease. He posted a record of 13-14-3, a .890 save percentage, a 3.31 GAA, and one shutout. It was not the year he typically has, but he was ready when his name was called and had a solid year. After two years in Washington, he was traded to Los Angeles in a one-for-one trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Capitals.
Kuemper may be an upgrade in net over the Kings’ lone All-Star representative last season, Cam Talbot. He is younger and taller than Talbot, which will cause him to get more pucks.
He also has more playoff experience and a Stanley Cup to his credit. Kuemper also has a short playoff career, but his numbers are solid. His playoff stats are a 17-10 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.70 GAA. His experience and success may be what the Kings need to advance to round two next season.
Kuemper is in year three of a five-year deal, which has an annual average value of $5.25 million. His contract is team-friendly and keeps Kuemper in Los Angeles for two more seasons. He will see goaltender David Rittich as his backup this season, and he performed well last season. Rittich went 13-6-3 with a 2.78 GAA and a .906 save percentage as Talbot’s backup.
Head Coach Jim Hiller has not publicly announced who will be the starter, as that will likely be decided in training camp.
Luemper will likely see the bigger load of work as he has more experience as a starter, and Rittich will come in as needed throughout the season.
Kuemper is a reliable goaltender who has the capability of leading this team in the playoffs and could be the missing piece to the Stanley Cup puzzle.
PHOTO: —
The post Will Kings’ Kuemper Stabilize the Goaltending Position? appeared first on Los Angeles Sports Nation.