Restricted free agent goaltender Darcy Kuemper has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Minnesota Wild, the team said Thursday.
No other terms were disclosed, but TSN's Bob McKenzie reported it's a one-way contract with an average annual value of $1.25 million.
"I'm super excited to continue this journey with the Wild and can't wait to see and get back on the ice with my teammates," Kuemper told Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Kuemper said he will arrive at Wild training camp Friday, the newspaper reported.
The 24-year-old was 12-8-4 with a 2.43 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and two shutouts in 26 regular-season games for the Wild last season. He set franchise records for wins, shutouts and consecutive games started (16) by a rookie goaltender.
Kuemper was 3-2 with a 2.03 GAA, a .913 save percentage and one shutout in six Stanley Cup Playoff games; he was injured late in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round against the Colorado Avalanche. Ilya Bryzgalov finished the game and was the winning goaltender in the 4-3 overtime victory that gave Minnesota its first playoff series victory in 11 years and then played all six games against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round.
Kuemper's agreement came one day after the Wild disclosed that veteran goaltender Josh Harding will be out indefinitely with a fractured right foot, and Bryzgalov, an unrestricted free agent, had received a tryout invitation to training camp.
Multiple media reports said Harding was suspended by the Wild because the injury was sustained in an off-ice incident.
Kuemper was Minnesota's sixth-round selection (No. 161) in the 2009 NHL Draft.
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