Stanley Cup Champion Darcy Kuemper has left the Colorado Avalanche and signed as a free agent with the Washington Capitals, agreeing on a 5-year, $26.25 million deal.
Kuemper is coming off of his best season ever, going 37-12-4 with a GAA of 2.54 and a save percentage of .921. He has rebounded from the last three seasons, which were average for a starting goaltender.
He now leaves Colorado to become a starter in Washington, where the goaltending situation had a big void with both of their previous goaltenders finding new homes.
In his career, Kuemper has a record of 143-95-36 with a GAA of 2.48 and a save percentage of .918. He has been primarily a starter in the NHL, putting up solid numbers in his career.
Darcy Kuemper is the new starter for the Capitals.
Kuemper now goes to Washington, where he looks to get the Capitals back on track and lead them to another Stanley Cup appearance.
With the signing of Kuemper, the Capitals also signed goaltender Charlie Lindgren to back up Kuemper. This gives the Capitals a solid goalie tandem that could give new life to Washington in hopes of making a deep playoff run like Kuemper did with Colorado.
Kuemper now has that taste of what a Stanley Cup feels like, and the Capitals have had that feeling before also. It could be a match made in heaven as Kuemper gives them a legit number one netminder now with veteran leadership.
Adding the 32-year-old to be the starter gives the Capitals confidence that he can play 80% of the games and give them solid outings every time he gets between the pipes. Kuemper can give them quality starts and keep Washington in the game, regardless of the score.
A product of the WHL Red Deer Rebels and the Spokane Chiefs, Kuemper has the ability to take the Capitals back to the promised land with his play. A lot of people thought he would not do well in Colorado and he showed he still has plenty of game left. Let’s see if he can take that magic and make the Capitals Cup contenders again.