Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with restricted free-agent goaltender Darcy Kuemper (pronounced KEHM-puhr) on a one-year, $1.55 million contract.
Kuemper, 26 (5/5/90), posted a 6-7-5 record, with a .915 save percentage (SV%), a 2.43 goals-against average (GAA) and two shutouts in 21 games with Minnesota in 2015-16, becoming the first Wild goalie to register at least a point in eight consecutive decisions from the start of the season (4-0-4, 10/16-12/22/15).
The 6-foot-5, 212-pound native of Saskatoon, Sask., has totaled a 33-29-11 record with a .912 SV%, a 2.47 GAA and seven shutouts in 84 games during parts of four seasons with the Wild (2012-16). The netminder has also recorded a 3-1-1 record, with a .911 SV%, a 2.13 GAA and one shutout in nine playoff games over three postseasons with Minnesota (2012-15).
Kuemper stopped all 22 shots faced in his first career playoff start, a 1-0 overtime win against Colorado on April 21, 2014, to record the first playoff shutout in franchise history. He was originally selected by the Wild in the sixth round (161st overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
[Minnesota Wild press release]
