Kuemper Trade Sparks Hope for Oilers' Fans
Darcy Kuemper was traded to the Los Angeles Kings yesterday, and that should give Edmonton Oilers fans a sign of hope.
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports - Kuemper Trade Sparks Hope for Oilers' FansEDMONTON -- Trade season is in full swing.
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While the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers finish off their Stanley Cup Final series, other teams are making moves. Several moves happened yesterday involving goaltenders.
One of them saw the Oilers neighbor to the south send Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils.
Kevil Bahl packs his bags and heads to Cowtown along with a first round draft pick. This deal could work out for both teams depending on how the pick shakes out for the Calgary Flames.
The other goalie trade was something else though:
Los Angeles Kings forward Pierre-Luc Dubois swaps places with Washington Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper. This is the trade that should give Oilers fans hope because it was a change of scenery for both players. Both had tough years and big cap hits.
Dubois had 40 points in 82 regular season games. For some context, Connor McDavid has more points in the playoffs than Dubois did in the regular season. His deal carries an $8.5-million cap-hit for the next seven seasons.
Kuemper on the other hand has a cap hit of $5.25-million for the next three seasons. This past year he had a record of 13-14-3 with a 3.31 goals against average (GAA) and a .890 save percentage (SV%) in 33 total games. Kuemper is also 34 years old.
If Kuemper can get traded, so can Jack Campbell.
Campbell had a poor showing in the NHL last year. He played five NHL games this year and had a 4.50 GAA to go along with a .873 SV%. He bounced back in a huge way in the AHL after being sent down. Campbell had an 18-13-1 record, three shutouts, a 2.63 GAA and a .918 SV%. Campbell is also two years younger than Kuemper.
His contract looks better than Kuemper's too. He too has three years remaining, but at a slightly less expensive $5.0-million per year deal.
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They might need to take back a struggling forward or defender to make it happen. Perhaps they can target someone who has worn out their welcome elsewhere but would be a great fit with Kris Knoblauch's system.
Either way Oilers fans should find solace in this Kuemper deal, it could be the blueprint for the Oilers moving on from the inconsistent Campbell.
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