32 Teams, 32 Players: Darcy Kuemper

We continue to get you ready for the start of the 2024-25 NHL season by highlighting one interesting player on each team. Here we continue with Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper.

We are inching our way toward the start of the 2024-25 NHL season, and as we get closer we are going to highlight one player on each team that stands out for the season. What kind of player? Well, a player that could make a difference, be an X-factor, be on the verge of a breakout, or just simply be a player under the microscope and needing to have a big season.

Basically — which player do I think is the most fascinating on each team.

We are not going in any particularly order and continue today with Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings.

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Honestly I am not entirely sure what to think of the Los Angeles Kings this season.

My expectations for them going into the 2023-24 season were sky high, and I thought they had a legitimate chance to win the Western Conference. They still made the playoffs, but they also seemed to take a small step backwards and again ran into the Edmonton Oilers in the first round and were unable to get through for the third year in a row.

They have successfully taken the step from rebuilding team to good team.

The step from good team to Stanley Cup contender is significantly steeper. They are having trouble climbing it.

After this offseason I am not entirely sure it is going to get any easier. Especially given the current state of the defense.

Matt Roy is gone to the Washington Capitals in free agency. Drew Doughty is out on a month-to-month basis and who knows what he will look like when he returns with a major leg injury, and especially at his age. The offense was a huge problem in the second half of the season and I am not sure they did anywhere near enough to fix that. If anything, it might be worse on paper.

The potential of Brandt Clarke on defense is intriguing, especially with his new expanded role in the absence of Doughty, but this is still a team with a lot of questions.

Another question that we have not even gotten to here yet — goaltending.

The Kings managed to piece together a competent duo — and a surprisingly good duo — a year ago, but that has been the one position that has been a big weakness through this recent resurgence for the team. Now they are banking on veteran Darcy Kuemper bouncing back to help solve the position.

Let’s talk about it.