NHL trade rumors: 5 teams who should trade for Darcy Kuemper
The latest NHL trade rumors have the Arizona Coyotes shopping Darcy Kuemper. Here are the five best fits for him.
The goaltending market this offseason is going to be fascinating. There are going to be free agents like Braden Holtby, Mike Smith, Robin Lehner, and Anton Khudobin. However, the most fascinating name could be on the trading block. According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Arizona Coyotes are pondering trading their star goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
If this is true, Darcy Kuemper is likely the best goaltender on the market (with all due respect to Lehner). He’s been one of the best goaltenders in the league over the past two seasons. Among goalies who have played in at least 50 games since the start of the 2018-19 season, his .926% save percentage ranks second only to Ben Bishop of the Dallas Stars (.927%).
Furthermore, his .928% save percentage this season ranked third among goalies with at least 25 games. Though Kuemper is 30 years old, he’s hitting the prime of his career and his body doesn’t have as many miles on it as other goalies his age since he’s only played in 215 regular season games and he’s only played in at least 30 games in a season twice.
But what makes Kuemper especially appetizing on the trade market is his contract. He’s signed for the next two seasons at a $4.5 million cap hit. This ranks 17th among goalies, though keep in mind this doesn’t include goalies like Jacob Markstrom, Robin Lehner and Braden Holtby, who don’t have contracts for next season.
I bet you’re wondering why the Coyotes would even want to trade Kuemper if he’s this good. Well, they’re considering rebuilding and they don’t have many draft picks. Kuemper could easily help them replenish the draft picks they’ve lost by trading for Taylor Hall and via the punishment they’re facing for illegally scouting players.
Do I think the Coyotes are going to trade Kuemper? No, I’ll believe it when I see it. But anything’s possible. So let’s look at the five best fits for Kuemper.
Honorable Mentions
The Toronto Maple Leafs would have to trade Frederik Andersen first, but if they do that, Kuemper would be one heck of an upgrade for them. They’d have other problems to work out, but anytime you can add someone like Kuemper for just $4.5 million annually, you’ve got to explore it.
Let’s say the Vancouver Canucks don’t re-sign Jacob Markstrom. I wonder if they’d be interested in Kuemper? Thatcher Demko has a bright future, but he’s not ready to be a number one goalie yet. It would probably take more than $4.5 million a year to sign someone like Lehner or Markstrom. Two years is enough time to let Demko and their impressive goalie prospects develop.
The Vegas Golden Knights could make sense, though they’ve already got Marc-Andre Fleury. $11.5 million is a lot to spend on goaltending. Depending on what the Chicago Blackhawks do with Corey Crawford, maybe Kuemper would make sense for them.