The Minnesota Wild liked what they saw in big No. 70, but in the end Darcy Kuemper was a victim of the numbers game.
While Kuemper fared well in his second stint at the Wild’s main training camp, the hard truth was that the NHL club has goaltenders signed throughout their system. As a result, the six-foot-four Saskatoon native was returned to Red Deer last week for a third Western Hockey League season and promptly backstopped the Rebels to 4-1 and 8-1 wins over the Edmonton Oil Kings.
“I knew what to expect at Minnesota’s camp this year so I could kind of limit all of the distractions and just play my game,” said the Wild’s sixth-round pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft, who will get the call again tonight when the Rebels host the Kootenay Ice at 7 p.m.
“It went really well for me in Minnesota. I was really happy with how I played and got positive feedback as well. Overall it was a very good camp.”
But Kuemper had no power over the Wild’s contractual obligations and is back with the Rebels, who now have four overage players on their roster following Tuesday’s release of netminder Kraymer Barnstable.
“There wasn’t a lot of room for me going in (to Minnesota’s camp), so it might even have been inevitable that I’d be back here this year regardless of how I played,” said Kuemper. “They have a lot of guys signed for this season, but it’s a big year for me too to try and move my career onwards.”
Indeed, with 16-year-old rookie Bolton Pouliot now the Rebels’ back-up netminder, Kuemper will play big minutes in his final WHL season.
“I’m happy to be back, but I went into (the Wild’s) camp with the mind-set that I wanted to be a pro this year,” said Kuemper. “But they (Minnesota management) told me I’d develop better here and they wanted me to come back to Red Deer for another year. In one way it was a little upsetting, but in another way (the Wild) know what they’re doing and I’m happy to be back with this organization. It’s a great organization and I was happy to see all of the guys again.”
“I’ll see lots of ice time this season and the team looks solid so far. We had a great opening weekend and we just want to build off of that.”
The Ice and then the Medicine Hat Tigers, who will host the Rebels Friday and be at the Centrium 24 hours later, will likely present a greater challenge than the test offered by Edmonton last weekend. Not that the Rebels were taking the Oil Kings for granted.
“There aren’t any easy games and we certainly didn’t approach last weekend as though they were easy games,” said Rebels head coach/VP of hockey operations Jesse Wallin. “Our approach can’t change and every game is big. There are some divisional games coming up and obviously we can only focus on one at a time and our focus right now is tomorrow night.
“We want to get out to good start again and establish our game here at home. The mind-set doesn’t change — every point is huge at this time of the year and we want to get as many as we can. It’s going to be important that we’re ready to go off the bat (tonight). We’ll have to continue to pressure and be aggressive and play the style of game we need to play.”
• Barnstable returned home to Kelowna Sunday and was officially released Tuesday when Wallin failed to find a trading partner for the 20-year-old.
The likeable netminder has been placed on WHL waivers and if he’s not claimed, will pursue a junior A opportunity.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com