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Game 61: Stars @ Kings- Darcy Kuemper traded to Arizona |
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A day after Darcy Kuemper led the LA Kings to a gutsy 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets, he is traded away.
The Kings dealt Kuemper to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for winger Tobias Rider and goaltender Scott Wedgewood.
Kuemper has been a key figure for the Kings as the backup to Jonathan Quick. The 27-year-old goalie received the majority of his starts during back to back situations but has come up big for the team when Quick was either banged up or struggling.
The 6’5 goalie is 10-1-3 on the season with a 2.10 GAA and a .932 save percentage in 19 appearances. As of late, in Kuemper’s last six starts, he is 5-0-0 with a 1.97 GAA and .934 save percentage.
The reason his stats are being emphasized is because it is very hard to be consistent when the goalie doesn’t play every game. Being a backup goaltender is not as simple as people think.
Yes, the major function of a backup goalie is to take over for the starter to give him a break or if the starter just doesn’t have it that night. However, much of his role comes off the ice in the preparation for the games.
A backup’s role in large part is to help the starter be ready for the game. This includes going over tape, going over different player’s tendencies, and just making sure the starter is in the right mindset going into the game.
That’s why teams are often weary of calling up an AHL starter because the mindset of a starter compared to a backup is completely different, it’s almost a completely different position. A young goalie coming up usually is hungry to get into the net and take it from the starter, which doesn’t create the best environment amongst the two goalies.
Kuemper, coming from a Minnesota Wild team that focuses on two goalies, knew the position and his duties well and the Kings have benefitted from it. In Arizona, he’ll be sharing the net with Antti Raanta, and it’s expected that the two goalies will split time in the net from the rest of the season.
This also means that break time is over for Quick with the Kings will look to lean on him heavily as they race toward the playoffs. The Kings have four more back-to-back situations this season, including this Monday and Tuesday with a home and home with the Vegas Golden Knights. It will be interesting to see if Stevens trots out Quick for both games.
Looking at what the Kings got back, they received backup Scott Wedgewood from the Coyotes. Wedgewood was acquired by the Coyotes back in October when Coyotes suffered some injury problems, including an injury to Raanta.
This season, Wedgewood is 5-9-4 with a GAA of 3.45 and a save percentage of .893. The way I would describe a goalie like Wedgewood is an AHL+ goaltender. He is too good to play in the AHL but has had his struggles in the NHL.
The key piece coming back to the Kings is the 25-year-old Tobias Rieder. This season, Rieder has eight goals and 19 points in 58 games. However, in the past two seasons he has slowly improved as in 2016 he set a career high in points with 37 and last season he set a career high in goals with 16.
The winger is known in the league for his speed and the Kings are hoping that he’ll be able to fit in on a third line that will have much more of an offensive push once Jeff Carter returns from injury.
Speaking of Carter, there’s a chance we’ll finally get to see him soon with him being cleared for full contact practice today.
Coming up tonight for the Kings they return home for a three game home stand starting with the Dallas Stars. The Stars were shut out by the Anaheim Ducks 2-0 last night and are on the second half of a back-to-back.
This is an important game because of the proximity of both teams to having to compete for a Wild Card spot. Currently, the Stars are tied for third in the Central Division with the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild are right on their tails trailing by one point.
Meanwhile the Kings are currently tied with the Minnesota Wild for the second Wild Card position and are two points back of the Ducks for third in the Pacific Division.
In their last matchup, Kuemper and the Kings shut out the Stars 3-0. If the Kings win this game, it will give LA the season series and one of the tie break decisions should it get to that point.
Expect Quick to be in net for the Kings as he hasn’t played since Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. While nothing has been announce yet, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kari Lehtonen gets the start for Dallas due to it being a back-to-back.
Lehtonen is 10-5-1 with a 2.27 GAA and .920 save percentage in the 20 games that he has made an appearance.
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • 
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