Chip Scoggins: Save the mystery and declare Kuemper Wild's No. 1 goalie

Ten of the Wild's best players formed a semicircle around goalie Darcy Kuemper in a post-practice game they call "rebound."

The player at the point fired a shot at Kuemper, and the other nine guys tried to tap in rebounds. Basically, it's hockey's version of target practice.

Kuemper relished every save and let his teammates hear about it, describing his friendly trash talk as "chirping."

"I see a very confident player," Wild coach Mike Yeo said of his young goalie. "I hate to use the word, but swagger, that's the way he's playing the game right now and he's backing it up."

So does that mean that Kuemper will start the season Thursday night as the Wild's No. 1 goalie? Yeo didn't exactly paint a clear picture when asked Monday if he's established a definitive pecking order with his goalies, Kuemper and veteran Niklas Backstrom.

"Not right now," he said.

Does he need a pecking order?

OK, so which one gets the net for the season opener?

"You have to wait until Game 1," Yeo said.

Not this again. Harrumph.

Well, at least we know that Yeo's confusing clue doesn't involve Josh Harding, who literally kicked a wall and broke his foot during an off-ice altercation with a teammate.

That eliminates one option, but this never-ending goalie uncertainty is enough to cause migraines. That story line engulfed the Wild last season and now the starter's identity remains a mystery only a few days before the start of this promising season.

This is undeniably the most talented team in Wild history. Deep at forward, improved along the blue line, the days of Jed Ortmeyer and Warren Peters are a distant memory.

Success in the NHL playoffs remains a crapshoot. The best teams on paper, or in the standings, don't always advance. But the Wild shouldn't fear anyone, and Yeo didn't discourage optimism by dousing it with cold water.

"We know that we can be a contender," he said. "We know if we do what we're supposed to do then we can have a shot to win the Stanley Cup. In the same breath, we also know that we could miss the playoffs, looking at our division and our conference."

Their path likely hinges on goaltending. The Wild handled all the wackiness with its goaltending last season in a professional manner, but all the daily questions became exhausting. No doubt that Yeo wants to prevent a repeat of that.

The Wild needs one of the goalies to distinguish himself as the No. 1, someone capable of playing 50 to 55 games.

"Obviously the bigger you are," he said, "the more net you take up."

Backstrom remains a true pro and gamer at age 36, but his body can't be trusted to handle a heavy workload. An even split in playing time seems unrealistic because goalies crave repetition, especially if they're in a groove. Coaches always ride the hot hand.

Kuemper showed promise as a rookie last season and gained valuable experience in the postseason. This looks like an ideal opportunity to give him the job and see how he responds, knowing Backstrom is available if Kuemper falters.

"That's definitely the role I want to play," Kuemper said. "I've always been the No. 1 guy at every other level growing up. You want to be out there every night. … I know I'm ready for it."

Kuemper doesn't lack confidence, which is evident in his body language, his aggressiveness in the crease, even the way he flips the puck out of his glove after big saves. He plays the position with professional arrogance.

The Wild won't care, as long as he's effective. Assuming he gets the start, of course. Or maybe Backstrom will get the nod.

Whatever happens, let's just hope neither one kicks a wall in anger.