Darcy Kuemper might be the only Arizona Coyotes player who generates a buzz among the national media in the U.S. and Canada. The goaltender was an NHL All-Star for the first time in his career last season, and posted a 2.22 goals-against average in the regular season.
The Coyotes were rolling in December 2019, with Kuemper leading the charge up to first place in the division. He'd become regarded as the team's best player.
But injuries cost Kuemper two months of the regular season, and while he starred in the qualifying round against Nashville and did everything humanly possible to keep the Coyotes close in the first three games of the first-round series against Colorado, there was no stopping the Avalanche's attack in Games 4 and 5.