Coyotes sign goalie Darcy Kuemper to 2-year extension

The Arizona Coyotes have signed a two-year contract extension with goaltender Darcy Kuemper, the team announced on Wednesday.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Kuemper’s extension is worth $4.5 million average annual value (AAV).

Kuemper, whose cap hit currently is $1.85 million, according to CapFriendly, was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. That would’ve left the Coyotes with Antti Raanta, who is under contract through next season, along with the goaltenders in their pipeline.

Now, extending Kuemper gives the Coyotes two NHL-caliber goaltenders under contract for the immediate future and avoids having Kuemper only further raise his price after having a career year last season.

In 2018-19, Kuemper stepped in for the injured Raanta and played 55 games, putting up a .925 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average.

Those numbers were good enough to earn him fifth place in the Vezina Trophy voting, as Kuemper’s save percentage was tied for the highest in the NHL among goaltenders who played at least 50 games.

Kuemper is entering his third season with the Coyotes after coming over in a trade from the Los Angeles Kings during the 2017-18 season. He’s entering the eighth year of his NHL career after nearly doubling his career-high games played last year.

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