A major setback hit the Los Angeles Kings as goalie Darcy Kuemper was placed on injured reserve after a head injury sustained from a hit during the team’s defeat in Dallas. The move came a day after Kuemper exited the game in the first period following a sizable collision with Stars forward Mikko Rantanen, a play for which no penalty was assessed.
To fill the gap, the Kings recalled Arizona-based affiliate AHL goalie Pheonix Copley to serve as backup to Anton Forsberg while Kuemper recovers. In the current campaign, Kuemper has gone 10-6-6 with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage, continuing to anchor the Kings after they reacquired him in a June 2024 deal.
Kuemper, now 35, helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2022 and earned a Vezina Trophy finalist nod last season as he guided Los Angeles toward the playoffs. His strong form this year has even placed him in the conversation for Canada’s Olympic roster in February.
With Kuemper out for at least a week, Los Angeles flies on to Florida for a road game on Wednesday night, hoping to snap a three-game skid as they sit at 14-9-9 overall.
