Capitals land Kuemper on 5-year deal

The Washington Capitals signed goaltender Darcy Kuemper to a five-year contract carrying an average annual value of $5.25 million.

Kuemper was the top netminder available on the free-agent market after helping the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in June.

The 32-year-old struggled in the playoffs but had a strong regular season, going 37-12-4 with a .921 save percentage over 57 games with the Avalanche.

Colorado acquired him in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes last July. Kuemper had a disappointing 2021 season but excelled in the two previous campaigns, posting a .926 save percentage across 84 contests.

The 10-year veteran is joining his fifth NHL team. He signed with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent in 2017, and L.A. then dealt him to Arizona in Feb. 2018. Kuemper played his first four-plus seasons with the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him 161st overall in 2009.

Shortly after signing Kuemper, the Capitals rounded out their goaltending tandem by inking Charlie Lindgren to a three-year deal carrying an average annual value of $1.1 million.