Observations:

March 2014 – Darcy Kuemper has filled in admirably in the absence of Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding this season. The 23-year-old has started 19 games this season and is 11-4-3 with a .920 SV% and 2.32 GAA. The Wild added veteran goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov at the deadline from the Edmonton Oilers, but that is simply a safety valve in the event Kuemper falters or gets injured. He’s consistently answered coach Mike Yeo’s call this year and remains Minnesota’s goalie of the future. Jamie Zadow

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February 2014 – With Josh Harding missing in action since late December and Niklas Backstrom struggling through injuries as of late, Darcy Kuemper has made the most of his opportunities with the Wild. After struggling in a call-up earlier in the year, Kuemper has been solid going 7-2-2 since being recalled by AHL Iowa. Kuemper continues to give the Wild more reason for him to stay up with the big club and with Harding’s current condition it’s unclear how long he will stay in the Minnesota crease. Jamie Zadow

October 2013 – The Wild sent Kuemper back down to AHL Iowa after a brief call-up to replace the injured Niklas Backstrom. After a disappointing start against the Maple Leafs, that saw him get pulled after allowing three goals on just seven shots, the 23-year-old has been anything but impressive in his time in the NHL. In seven career games, Kuemper is a dismal 1-3-0 with a 2.44 GAA and an .897 save percentage. Jamie Zadow

October 2013 – Kuemper was recalled from AHL Iowa after veteran goaltender Niklas Backstrom was injured with a knee sprain. The 23-year-old made his first start of the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, October 15^th but it was anything but pretty. Kuemper was pulled in the second period after allowing three goals on just seven shots. It’s unclear how long the young netminder will stay with the big club as Backstrom continues to nurse a sore knee. Jamie Zadow

May 2013 – With the injury to G Niklas Backstrom, Kuemper was called-up from the Houston Aeros to serve as the backup to G Josh Harding. He made his NHL playoff debut in relief for Harding, who suffered a lower-body injury late in the first period of Game 4. Kuemper went on to appear in two games, while making 29 saves on 33 shots in the series loss to the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks. With the future of UFA Niklas Backstrom still unknown, Kuemper’s potential to compete for a consistent spot with the Wild in 2014 looks promising at this point. Clayton Bailey

March 2013 – Kuemper is a very large goaltender with great, raw skills and a bright future. He was another solid workhorse type in junior that Minnesota likes to draft. He need more professional time to provide polish and maturity to his game. His strong play in Houston of the AHL made the Wild confidant in using him in the NHL while Josh Harding struggles with issues related to his multiple sclerosis diagnosis in the fall. Kuemper came in and ran on adrenalin from an AHL hot streak and proved himself very capable at the top level. He currently finds himself back in Houston after recovery from a small groin injury, where he is likely to stay and eat minutes, while Hackett is up. Although he got the first recall and played excellently, he is still behind Matt Hackett on the depth chart who is much more ready for an impending changing of the guard in the organization. That said, Kuemper could show he is not much more than a season or two from completing an overhaul of the Wild net-minding should Josh Harding’s condition worsen. He is a goalie to keep an eye on, if your not already keeping tabs. Jason Banks

Fantasy Outlook:  B-

He is still raw and needs to show more as a professional starter. Shows ability to be very capable but the ceiling remains questionable.

Footage:

Explanation of Video: Excellent save on elite sniper Corey Perry, but his movement and play reading is very questionable.

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