Darcy Kuemper, Kings looking forward to a re-kindled relationship

There is something, if not inevitable, then certainly comfortable and familiar about all of this.

A closing of the circle if you will.

Darcy Kuemper certainly felt it on June 19 when, in the middle of a shower, his wife knocked on the door to tell him he’d been traded to the Los Angeles Kings for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois.

For Kuemper the news brought back a flood of happy memories from a first stint with the Kings who had signed the young netminder in July, 2017.

“Obviously it’s a big life-changer, I was pretty excited, super excited actually,” Kuemper said in a recent conversation. “Getting traded there’s a lot that comes with that but then to be able to come back to an organization that I loved so much. I know how much I enjoyed it here last time I was here. I was thrilled because you get traded you could go anywhere but to come to a familiar area where you loved it is so nice that’s how it worked out.”

Kuemper’s first stay in Los Angeles wasn’t a long one.

In February of that 2017-18 season he was traded to Arizona.

But what Kuemper’s time in Los Angeles lacked in duration was more than made up for in terms of the impact on Kuemper’s life.

Working closely with long-time Kings goaltending coach Bill Ranford, Kuemper revitalized his career and more importantly rekindled a passion for being an NHL netminder, a passion that had been blunted upon his arrival in Los Angeles.

Now, thanks to the June trade, the groundwork has been laid for a retelling of a story of renaissance and rebirth.

Ranford recalled his first conversation with Kuemper after the trade from Washington and how quickly Kuemper made it clear that he wanted very much to put last season behind him.

“In his words it was a disappointing second half of the year last year and he wanted to get his game back on track,” said Ranford who is the head of the Kings’ goaltending department. “We were able to have that discussion and then obviously building that relationship with (goalie coach) Mike Buckley was important too. So we got going with that right away. We’re looking forward to him playing the same kind of goal that he played for us last time around.”

Darcy’s new mask appreciation post 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/AN0BEGt4rS

— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 1, 2024

For his part the easy-going Kuemper is hesitant to discuss how things finished up in Washington where he played the last two seasons.

“Yeah, I think a good way to put it is just, it gives you a little bit of hunger to come out and show what you got and play your best hockey,” Kuemper said with a wry chuckle in a nearly empty locker room at Quebec City’s Centre Videotron. “I think that would be all I’d have to say about that.”

That Kuemper is highly motivated to move forward is a given.

But what is equally clear is that the longstanding bond between Ranford and Kuemper was a key factor in the trade with the Capitals and for the optimism for what lies ahead for both Kuemper and the Kings.

“I think obviously he’s matured and understands his game. But he’s the same type of person from last time around and I think that’s why there was no hesitation in our management group as far as bringing him back into the fold because he fit in the last time and there was no worry that he wouldn’t fit in this time,” Ranford said.

The distance between then and now can be measured in years, of course. But the real measurement of Kuemper’s career arc and his personal and professional growth is harder to quantify.

Kuemper arrived in Los Angeles in the summer of 2017 wondering what would become of his career after a tumultuous time in Minnesota. But working with Ranford they changed things stylistically taking advantage of Kuemper’s 6-foot-5 frame having him play more upright. The two worked on Kuemper’s hand positioning.

He came to work every day eager to learn and improve.

When Kuemper left the Kings via a 2018 trade deadline deal with Arizona, he built himself into a top NHL starter with the Coyotes. Then, in the summer of 2021 he was traded to Colorado and less than a year later, he was holding the Stanley Cup over his head as the Avs’ top netminder.

“He kind of had hit, in his words, had hit rock bottom when he came to us from Minnesota and wasn’t sure where his career was headed,” Ranford said. “With his hard work he was able to get back on track and then had some obviously great years in Phoenix and then went on to winning the Cup in Colorado. His first year with Washington was good and then just disappointment with the way his season went last year and so this is a win-win for, I think, both teams and we’re looking forward to him stopping the puck for us this year.”

Make no mistake. This isn’t a nostalgia trip for Kuemper or the Kings. But Kuemper and NHL observers believe the foundation of positive history is important in paving the way to a successful reunion.

“So many good memories just from the short time that I was here,” Kuemper said. “Being back all those memories and good feelings kind of carry with you so it’s been a lot of fun coming to the rink. “I think it’s super important. I think when it’s fun coming to work every day and you know there’s good vibes out there definitely helps you a lot,” Kuemper said.

Already, the 34-year-old feels like he’s on a path back to his old self.

“I think since the trade we’ve focused on getting back to some things that have been really successful for me throughout my career,” Kuemper said. “Just reading the play and using my size to my advantage a little bit more. So far I’ve been feeling really comfortable with it and when you start doing things that you’ve done for most of your career you feel confident doing it and then you feel better, just want to keep rolling from there and keep building and getting better every day.”

Long-time NHL netminder and national analyst Kevin Weekes has watched Kuemper throughout his career and sees a goaltender with a high ceiling. He also sees a goaltender who is at his best when he brings a little bite to his game.

“I think it’s an opportunity,” Weekes said. “They’re a good team. It’s a good spot for him to reboot himself and I think that should be his approach coming in.”

Weekes had high praise for the work done by the Kings’ goaltending department including the success Kuemper had during his first go-round with the team.

“The Kings have done a great job on their development model,” Weekes said. “They have a really good goalie department. Billy’s done a great job. I know he’s in a senior role now overseeing, but still they’ve been a little bit ahead of the curve.”

Another long-time NHL’er and highly respected analyst, Brian Boucher, went through a similar situation in his career when he returned to Philadelphia for a second time and helped the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010.

“You come back to that place it can kind of give you a jolt of energy,” Boucher said. “For Darcy I’m sure it’s the same. I think this is going to be a nice jolt for Darcy.”

Boucher also believes the fit is a good one given the evolution of the Kings organization and the new and young players expected to be everyday contributors in front of Kuemper.

“I like their team,” Boucher said. “They have expectations that they’re a team that gets into the playoffs and competes.”

Josh Saulnier is one of the owners of Ignite Athletics a Saskatoon-based workout facility that works with athletes of all ages including professional hockey and football players.

His younger brother grew up playing hockey with Kuemper and Kuemper returns home during the off-season pretty much every year to catch up with family and friends and to prepare for the coming season.

Saulnier has watched Kuemper grow from a young player perhaps not fully invested in proper off-season training to a singularly focused mature professional who is completely self-motivated.

Some players need the company of others to stay motivated during the summer, Saulnier explained. Not Kuemper.

Still, what continues to impress Saulnier is just how down-to-earth Kuemper has remained through it all.

“He’s a super easy guy to get along with and chat with,” Saulnier said.

If you didn’t know he was an NHL player with a Stanley Cup ring you would think he’s just a normal guy that likes to work out, Saulnier added.

“Which is what I like about Darcy,” he said. “He’ll talk to anybody in the gym. He doesn’t have any issues at all just being a regular person.”

So much the same about the likeable Kuemper. So much different in terms of experience and perspective as he prepares to lead the Kings into the 2024-25 season.

There’s a Stanley Cup ring, of course.

But more importantly there’s an 11-month-old son named Caden waiting at home after games and practices.

“Being a family guy obviously is a big change,” Kuemper said. “Once you have your first kid you know, that’s the number one thing in your life and always will be. It gives you a little bit of extra motivation I think just someone more to play for and trying to make them proud even though he’s so young always trying to make him proud.”

“I think from a hockey standpoint, I’ve just had a lot of different experiences since last time I was here,” Kuemper added. “When you go through those things you learn a lot about them, a lot about yourself, and I think every time you see something new out there or go through something new it makes you a better player I think.”

Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images