Avalanche find out the hard way that they should have signed Darcy Kuemper when they had the chance
Photo credit: Andy Cross / The Denver Post
The Colorado Avalanche allowed former goalie Darcy Kuemper to walk in free agency in 2022, creating a void in net that the team had difficulty filling until this past season.
Meanwhile, in an alternate universe, the Avalanche are backstopped by the Vezina Trophy nominee, a what-if scenario that still stings for some fans.
Did the Avalanche made a huge mistake with a former goalie?
Nestor Quixtan from Mile High Sticking writes that in this reality, Kuemper is guarding the net in Los Angeles, a development that's sparked plenty of speculation among fans about the "what-ifs" tied to a pivotal decision Colorado made during the 2022 offseason, just after their unforgettable Stanley Cup triumph.
"That offseason, the Avalanche bought into the rhetoric that the club could win without a true, number-one netminder. Moreover, cap issues forced the Avalanche to make tough choices. One such choice was to let Nazem Kadri depart via free agency, as well. So, the Avalanche let Kuemper go. He signed a five-year deal with the Washington Capitals for $26.25 million." -Quixtan
At the time, many believed the Washington Capitals had overpaid for Kuemper. And after a rocky stint in D.C., they shipped him off to Los Angeles, where he rediscovered his form and emerged as a Vezina-caliber goaltender.
Back in Colorado, things were far less stable. Since the 2022-23 season, the Avalanche have seen a revolving door in the crease, with five different goalies suiting up. Alexander Georgiev carried most of the workload, and let's just say the results weren't exactly what Colorado had hoped for.
"It's safe to say that the team finally remedied the situation by landing MacKenzie Blackwood this past season. But would it have been necessary to go through all of that drama? How different would things have been if the Avalanche had re-signed Kuemper? It's an intriguing thought. In that parallel universe, where the Avalanche re-signed Kuemper, the Avs would have had a real shot at repeating. But they didn't, and that repeat never happened." -Quixtan
In hindsight, the Avalanche's decision to part ways with Kuemper was justifiable. Georgiev was a promising option ready to step in, and with the salary cap frozen in the post-COVID era, Colorado had to be strategic with their spending. Prioritizing cap flexibility made sense, even if it meant letting go of their Cup-winning netminder.
"Had COVID never happened, the flat-cap era would have never existed. The Avalanche would have had the cap space to sign Kuemper and possibly keep Kadri. Heaven knows Kadri wanted to stay in Colorado." -Quixtan
The reality is, the Avalanche were faces with some incredible tough decisions. Given the uncertain and limited information available at the time, they made what seemed like the right call. More often than not, decisions made under pressure can unravel just as quickly, and that's exactly what happened to the Avalanche.
"In the Avs' defense, it took Kuemper several seasons to become a Vezina nominee. His early struggles in DC allowed folks to point the finger and proclaim the Avalanche right in letting him walk. Perhaps the LA Kings' defensive core deserves the credit for Kuemper's terrific season this past year." -Quixtan
Ultimately, the organization can't be faulted for Georgiev's decline, his rough stretch with the San Jose Sharks only reinforced that Colorado made the right call. Then again, maybe in some alternate universe, three years from now, we'll be talking about how letting Georgiev walk was the Avalanche's biggest mistake.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 14 | 24 ANSWERS Avalanche find out the hard way that they should have signed Darcy Kuemper when they had the chance Would you prefer having Darcy Kuemper or Mackenzie Blackwood in nets for the Avalanche? | ||
| Kuemper | 8 | 33.3 % |
| Blackwood | 16 | 66.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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