The Wild Goalie Situation: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and Bryzgalov

Last season, the Wild used five different starting goalies to play all 82 games of their schedule, and the hopes were that this year, they would have more stability at the position, and that number wouldn’t be so high.

(chuckles) Yeah…

Well, here we are after a mere two days of training camp, and after all of the nonsense that went down over the last three days pertaining to the goalie situation, the picture is even less clear than it was on Monday. So here’s each one of those goalies, and their current outlook on this season.

Josh Harding– Harding had a phenomenal first half last year, posting NHL best numbers in SV% and GAA, then he has a setback with his MS, and couldn’t get a

Dec 14, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding (37) in his net in a overtime period against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. The Minnesota Wild defeated the Colorado Avalanche in a shootout 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

handle on medication corrections in time to play at any point during the rest of the season, not playing a game in the year 2014. The hope was that this season, Harding would have his MS better regulated, and would able to play most of the season, with perhaps a few leaves of absence to keep his treatment on track. Unfortunately, that is not going to be the case. Harding broke his foot on Tuesday after a captain practice, in an “off-ice altercation” with a teammate, apparently from kicking a wall. Luckily for him, he won’t need surgery on the foot, but is still going to miss a few months. The Wild responded to this by suspending Harding during his recovery, because his injury was off-ice, which basically just means is they’re not paying him to heal such a senseless injury. I don’t think, however, that this has soured the Wild on starting Harding when healthy, and if he’s back sometime around Christmas or sooner, I would think that he would get a fair shot to take the reins on the #1 goalie spot, unless one of the next men I mention is on a hot streak similar to Harding’s first half last year.

Darcy Kuemper– Kuemper had a great second half last year following Harding’s first half, after his call up in early January. He was the Wild’s bell cow for most of 2014, and finished with a 2.43 GAA and .915 SV%. He then led the Wild to a playoff series victory over the Avalanche before an injury sidelined him for the Chicago series. Kuemper has been the subject of much scrutiny this past month, as he held out on resigning with the Wild until the first day of training camp. Kuemper wanted a one-way contract, ensuring

Jan 21, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars shut out the Wild 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

he couldn’t be taxied from the NHL to the AHL, and with that, a guarantee on his NHL salary. The Wild initially balked at the idea and offered Kuemper a two-way deal, meaning they could send him down to the AHL at any point before he played his 14th game this season, but eventually relented after Harding’s foot injury. Kuemper got a two-year, one-way deal worth 2.5 million, but can still start the season with the Iowa Wild, awaiting a call to St. Paul. I have a feeling the Wild want to have that luxury, depth-wise, but that all depends on if the team ends up signing Ilya Bryzgalov to a deal, and if they start Bryzgalov with the NHL club to start the season.

Niklas Backstrom– In short, Backstrom had a rough year last year, and it was mercifully ended in February

Oct 28, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom (32) looks on during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Xcel Energy Center. The Blackhawks defeated the Wild 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

when he was placed on the IR.  Backstrom had been the workhorse of the Wild for most of his first seven seasons with the team, but clearly that time and his age have taken a toll on his body, and his production has taken the hit. This year, a healthy Backstrom hopes to bounce back, and though he’s probably more regarded and best suited for a backup role at this point, he hopes to have a better season with that limited time than last year. It will be interesting to see if Harding’s injury and the late additions and contractual circumstances of Kuemper and Bryzgalov make Backstrom the starter early in the season, until Harding comes back or Kuemper is called up. Backstrom, 36, still has two years left on his sizable contract, so it will be interesting to see what comes of him this year, in both production and playing time.

Ilya Bryzgalov– Bryzgalov was dealt to the Wild at the trade deadline last year, and all he did was win the deciding game 7 of the playoff series with the Avalanche (albeit with one save), and started all six games of the

Apr 7, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Minnesota Wild goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (30) during the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

second round series with Chicago. Bryzgalov was brought in to back up Kuemper after Harding and Backstrom both went down for the season, and at the time, and it was understood this was going to be a temporary situation. But, after Harding’s injury and the uncertainty surrounding Kuemper a few days ago, the Wild brought Bryzgalov in for a professional tryout. It isn’t exactly clear if the Wild are interesting in signing Bryzgalov for this season, but given that they brought him in to essentially replace Harding in training camp, I would assume they’re not just bringing him to showcase him for other teams to get him a job elsewhere. What will be interesting if Bryzgalov is signed by the Wild is where he starts the season, in St. Paul or Des Moines. It seems as though Bryzgalov (if signed) and Kuemper will be kept on opposite teams, with one starting the season in Iowa.

John Curry– Curry was the emergency option the Wild had to break glass to use a few times last year, and was the primary backup during the Chicago series in the playoffs. Curry is a journeyman backup, and that’s the only role that any Wild fan wants to see him in, clearly. You may hear his name from time to time in the preseason, but to see him, especially in the net during the regular season, means something has gone terribly wrong for the Wild, ala last season before the trade for Bryzgalov. Curry is a life raft at best, and with four goalies ahead of him in the pecking order, let’s hope he spends the whole season in Iowa.