Avalanche Cup hero might hold the key to the Kings' entire upcoming season
Photo credit: Jeff Roberson / AP News
Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup champion and former goaltender Darcy Kuemper could prove to be the deciding factor in the Los Angeles Kings' success throughout the entire upcoming season.
Kuemper will look to deliver another standout season as the Los Angeles Kings' starting netminder in 2025-26.
The Los Angeles Kings' upcoming season success relies on Darcy Kuemper.
Andrew Miller from Rink Royalty writes that heading into last season, Kuemper was one of the biggest question marks for the Los Angeles Kings and heach coach Jim Hiller.
However, Kuemper quickly silenced those doubts early in the campaign, proving his value in the Western Conference.
"For only the second time in his 13-year-pro career in the NHL, Kuemper reigstered over 30 wins and at least five shutouts. He finished up this past season for the Kings with a sparkling record of 31-11-7, with a career-best 2.02 goals against average and 0.921 save percentage." -Hiller
Kuemper needed a bounce-back season for the Kings after posting below-average numbers with the Washington Capitals in the 2023-24 campaign in the Metro Division.
Not only did he return to the high level of play he displayed with the Capitals and Avalanche earlier in the 2020's, but he also earned his first career Vezina Trophy finalist nod this past season.
"He provided the Kings with the steady presence between the pipes to help this team make the playoffs last season, bailing the team out and stopping high-danger shots frequently in clutch time for LA's defense. Kuemper was one of only three goalies last season in the NHL to stop over 80 percent of high-danger shot attempts they faced last year." -Hiller
If Kuemper can consistently start at least 50 regular-season games over the remaining two years of his contract, he could be the type of elite goaltender to keep the Kings in playoff contention.
The key question is wheather he can maintain that high level of performance with an increased workload, especially as he heads into a season at 35 years old.
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