Take a chance on Kuemper?

[captaincrunch32]

I know I can't speak for every fantasy player...but I have to think most of us are a neurotic and superstitious lot and that's why when I read Laidlaw's post on Kuemper today I get nutty: "Darcy Kuemper played well stopping all 32 shots that he faced. If Kuemper could get it together he could give Devan Dubnyk a run for his money. Dubnyk has the big contract now so it’ll be a greater challenge but he hasn’t been unimpeachable this season. It’s tough to buy Kuemper as a legit threat after how he flamed out last season, however."

Arrrgh...does Laidlaw know something we don't? Even last night, the announcers were singing Kuemper's praises and also hinted at him giving Dub a run for his money. Dub's numbers have to be above league average (2.27/.921) so I still see the Minny crease as his....so here's where the neurosis comes in....what if management/agent has leaked that Kuemp's available via trade....what if Dub is nursing an injury that hasn't been disclosed yet....you see where you can drive yourself nuts overthinking this stuff.

[FinnishFlash]

Personally, I have a very hard time believing Dubnyk will lose the crease to Keumper.

Minny isn't winning as of late, but goaltending hasn't been the issue, the team just can't score.

I'd beleive that they were shopping Keumper before I'd beleive he was about to take the crease.

[distantyeti58]

Personally, I have a very hard time believing Dubnyk will lose the crease to Keumper.

Minny isn't winning as of late, but goaltending hasn't been the issue, the team just can't score.

I'd beleive that they were shopping Keumper before I'd beleive he was about to take the crease.

although i agree with you, when the team isn't winning and has expectations to win anything can happen, look at anaheim with the gibson situation, goaltending was not their problem as their offense wasn't/isn't scoring and gibson took the crease because although goaltending wasn't the problem the change in goaltending led to more wins.

Now kuemper is no john gibson so we will see where this ends up

[franklin]

Personally, I have a very hard time believing Dubnyk will lose the crease to Keumper.

Minny isn't winning as of late, but goaltending hasn't been the issue, the team just can't score.

This. Why would they not go with the guy with the big contract? They sign him for the next 5 years, and they would put him on the bench because the team is not scoring? Don't see it.

[ShawneePanthers]

I think Kuemper and Gibson are very comparable.

[Pengwin7]

Goalies play well without pressure.
Kuemper was OK for MIN when he wasn't the starting goalie (as back-up rising), then he was poor when he got the gig as starting goalie, and now he's spot playing well...
Whereas Dubnyk, as the annointed savior isn't as glorious as last year.

That's sort of the way most non-Elite goalies are.
Great without pressure.
OK-to-Poor with pressure.

I thought Dubnyk could be a top five-ish goalie this year... mostly because I love MIN's defensive system.
But I'll say it doesn't surprise me to see Dubnyk falling & Kuemper rising.

[LawMan]

I don't see Kuemper being much of a threat to Dubnyk and I don't think he's that comparable to Gibson.

Gibson is the golden boy, the high draft pick who has shown success, the only reason Gibson was in the AHL this year was not ability but for playing time. It's well known that Gibson has skill and assumed the long-term plan is to have Gibson as the starter. Kuemper on the other hand is a late round pick who has hung around as a backup for several years seeing several starters come and go. When finally given the opportunity to be a starter last year he struggled so badly the Wild went out and acquired Dubnyk.
Another big factor is the head coach. Boudreau is a wildcard who picks goalie starts on a whim and wasn't afraid to go to Gibson even though Andersen wasn't the problem. Conversely Yeo typically likes to find his starter and ride him hard, giving him plenty of games to work it out if he's struggling.

If you look at Dubnyk's season his first 6 weeks were pretty bad and yet Yeo kept giving him the starts, if there was a reasonable time to give Kuemper more starts that would have been it. Since his awful start Dubnyk has played very stellar, in his last 8 starts his GAA is 2.125. I don't see Kuemper stealing the starter's job but if he continues to play great he may earn himself a few more starts than last year when Dubnyk started basically every game post-trade.

From a fantasy perspective if you can get him for cheap he might be worth an own but I wouldn't pay much for him.

[taki27]

I know I can't speak for every fantasy player...but I have to think most of us are a neurotic and superstitious lot and that's why when I read Laidlaw's post on Kuemper today I get nutty: "Darcy Kuemper played well stopping all 32 shots that he faced. If Kuemper could get it together he could give Devan Dubnyk a run for his money. Dubnyk has the big contract now so it’ll be a greater challenge but he hasn’t been unimpeachable this season. It’s tough to buy Kuemper as a legit threat after how he flamed out last season, however."

Arrrgh...does Laidlaw know something we don't? Even last night, the announcers were singing Kuemper's praises and also hinted at him giving Dub a run for his money. Dub's numbers have to be above league average (2.27/.921) so I still see the Minny crease as his....so here's where the neurosis comes in....what if management/agent has leaked that Kuemp's available via trade....what if Dub is nursing an injury that hasn't been disclosed yet....you see where you can drive yourself nuts overthinking this stuff.

You must be a joy to be around come trade deadline with all the misinformation that gets leaked out

[captaincrunch32]

Taki27, I'm just reporting what Laidlaw wrote and what I heard during the broadcast last night. My goalies are Bobrovsky, Elliot and Markstrom...one is hurt again, the other has a short shelf life and the third is maybe...maybe...in an even time share...at best. Just trying to catch lightning in a bottle somewhere.

[Irriducibile11]

Trust me on this one, don't. Last game wasn't about Kuemper but about the Kings. We are specialists at making backups or AHL callups look great.

I predicted it here: http://forums.dobbersports.com/showt...20#post1576220
And everyone else did here: http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh....php?t=2016719

The shutout yesterday was the most predictable thing in the world and no measuring stick.

[captaincrunch32]

2nd consecutive start? something doing?

[Wrist_Shot]

I still have a good amount of faith in Keumper and feel he has the potential to become an above average starter in the NHL. Yes, last season's attempt at grabbing the starting role was a disaster. But, it's important to note that he was just 24 at the time and had played a grand total of 32 NHL games to that point. Very few goalies are able to take control of the crease at that age, even fewer with his experience.

Keumper turns 26 in May and his best playing days are likely ahead of him. Now isn't a bad time to invest if he can be had at low cost.

[captaincrunch32]

i can grab him off the waivers.

[Irriducibile11]

4 GA on 33 shots, down to earth.

As I said: last game wasn't about Kuemper, it was about the Kings. Don't overvalue him based on that.

[taki27]

Isn't Kuemper the goalie with MS?