The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the market to improve their team after a disappointing end to the playoffs, and as such are rumoured to be in on virtually every player available.
According to hockey insider Frank Seravalli, the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the teams interested in goaltender Darcy Kuemper. He is coming off a down year playing for the Arizona Coyotes but could be a valuable addition to work in tandem with Jack Campbell.
It is not too shocking that Toronto would be interested in Kuemper. It sounds like Maple Leafs pending unrestricted free agent goaltender Frederik Andersen wants more than $5 million a season. How much more is unknown, but Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas might try to get Kuemper to sign an extension for less than what Andersen is asking.
This coming season will be the second year of a two-year contract with a $4.5 million AAV. His record over the last two shortened seasons was 26-22-5, which is pretty good for a goaltender on a non-playoff team. Last season Kuemper posted a .907 SV% and a 2.56 GAA with two shutouts in 27 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs Not The Only Team Interested In Darcy Kuemper
The other teams that Frank lists as having an interest in Kuemper are the Colorado Avalanche and the Seattle Kraken. Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Avalanche will have to wait until after the July 21st expansion draft to see whether or not the Kraken select Kuemper as their player from Arizona.
ICE BREAKERS: #Yotes Darcy Kuemper emerges as primary target for #Leafs and #Avs. Plus more on the goalie market, Giordano, Suter, Weber and Eichel.https://t.co/URARvkY5Xu
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 15, 2021
It is believed that the Coyotes will protect restricted free agent goaltender Adin Hill in the expansion draft, which will leave Kuemper exposed. If Kuemper is still available after the expansion draft, Toronto will surely try to acquire him.
It is unknown what the Coyotes asking price will be for Kuemper, but it will likely cost Toronto a prospect or two. Kuemper is not the only player Toronto is showing interest in. Sounds like they have started to show some interest in Colorado forward Gabriel Landeskog.