#5 – Darcy Kuemper
If the idea of the Leafs signing Fleury is exciting, then imagine how much better the team would be if they could have an equally talented goaltender who is six years younger. Darcy Kuemper would be an enormous upgrade in the Maple Leafs crease. Bringing him to Toronto is a possibility thanks to his two-year, $9 million contract, which is set to expire.
After five years with the Wild, a stopover with the Los Angeles Kings, and four years in the desert with the Arizona Coyotes, Kuemper has spent this season thriving with his fourth NHL club, the Avalanche. He has been phenomenal, winning 31 of the 47 games he started. Kuemper has posted a 2.37 goals-against average along with a .924 save percentage.
Kuemper has had an excellent career. Selected in the sixth round by the Wild (161st overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he has far exceed expectations. There was a time even playing in the NHL was a long shot, but Kuemper has been so strong that he’s even received votes to win the Hart and Vezina trophies, though he hasn’t won either one. For his career, the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native has a 2.45 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.
It’s going to take a big cheque to bring Kuemper to Toronto. It would certainly mean that Campbell has not re-signed and likely that the team has also managed to trade Mrazek and his $3.8 million cap hit. That would open up space for the Leafs to have a true number-one goaltender.