.@dkuemps35 has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with #mnwild: http://t.co/kR6H43RTxu pic.twitter.com/CqCRyGLwvC
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) September 19, 2014
The Minnesota Wild and goaltender Darcy Kuemper have agreed on a two-year, one-way contract. The deal came on the heels of Minnesota suspending Josh Harding after he broke his foot.
Terms of Kuemper’s contract were not disclosed, but TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports the deal is worth $2.5 million.
Kuemper gets $1M in the first year and $1.5M in the second year.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) September 19, 2014
“I’m super excited to continue this journey with the Wild and can’t wait to see and get back on the ice with my teammates,” Kuemper told the Star Tribune’s Michael Russo in a text message.
Kuemper, 24, went 12-8-4 with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. He recorded two shutouts during 26 regular season games with the Wild last season. He set franchise records for a rookie goaltender in wins, shutouts and consecutive starts.
He also played a key role in Minnesota’s playoff run. Kuemper went 3-1-1 with a 2.03 GAA, a .913 save percentage and one shutout in six playoff games for the Wild.
Kuemper agreed to the contract shortly after the Wild suspended Josh Harding on Thursday.
Harding suspended
Harding had a meeting with general manager Chuck Fletcher on Thursday. Russo reports Fletcher made the decision to suspend Harding shortly after the meeting.
MIN's injured goalie Josh Harding has been suspended by the Wild because his fractured ankle is not a hockey-related injury.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) September 19, 2014
Harding will not be paid a prorated portion of his $2.1 million salary. The Pioneer Press reports that as long as he is suspended he won’t count against the team’s salary cap.
Along with Kuemper the Wild will also have Niklas Backstrom, Ilya Bryzgalov and John Curry in net to start the season.
While that may seem like a lot, FOX Sports Net reminds Wild fans they had five different goaltenders start between the pipes last season, four of whom started at least 10 games.
