Jan 6, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) makes a save during the third period against the San Jose Sharks at Xcel Energy Center. The Sharks defeated 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Darcy Kuemper was a sixth-round selection, at 161, in 2009 – a pretty good draft year for Minnesota. Like Haula, Kuemper didn’t exactly shine this season, as he fell to 14-12-2 with a .905 save percentage and a 2.60 goals-against average following a hot start where he posted shutouts in three of his first four games.
There wasn’t too much talk of Kuemper coming out of major junior. But it wasn’t quite a surprise the sixth-rounder has been successful in the NHL (12-8-4, .915 SP, and 2.43 GAA during 2013-14), since he won MVP in the Western Hockey League in 2010-11 where he posted a 45-12-5 record, .933 SP, 1.86 GAA, and 13 shutouts for the Red Deer Rebels. That same season he was named the top goalie in the entire Canadian Hockey League.