Does Kuemper Make Sense for Sharks? | SJHN+

Could Darcy Kuemper be a starting option for the San Jose Sharks?

“It sounds like they’re gonna move Kuemper, or try to, and Adin Hill would be the guy,” an NHL scout told San Jose Hockey Now earlier this week. “Arizona has been awfully high on [Hill].”

Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff reported yesterday that a trade for Kuemper could come together “in short order, perhaps so that Arizona could move to protect Adin Hill in the upcoming Expansion Draft.”

An expansion draft-related freeze on trade, waivers, and signings begins tomorrow at 12 PM PT and runs through Thursday. Teams must turn in their expansion draft protection lists by 2 PM PT tomorrow.

So yes, a deal for Kuemper, wherever he goes, might have to happen by tomorrow afternoon. And while Seravalli tabbed Toronto and Colorado as likely destinations for Kuemper, the San Jose Sharks also make some sense. We know they’re looking for a starting goalie — we’ve already talked with three NHL scouts about possible candidates:

Scouts on Khudobin, Holtby & Other Sharks Goalie Trade Targets | SJHN+

Scouts Talk Driedger, Ullmark, Grubauer & Other UFA Goalies | SJHN+

We also know San Jose had interest in Kuemper last off-season. So let’s ask the scouts: Do they think Kuemper is a quality starter? Are they concerned about his relatively-poor season? And would they pick him over premier UFA prize Philipp Grubauer for their team?