The Los Angeles Kings are approaching a critical crossroads, and the name at the center of it all is Adrian Kempe. The chatter around the league, amplified by insiders like Elliotte Friedman, suggests Kempe’s camp is eyeing a contract north of $10.5 million per year. Frankly, after seeing Kirill Kaprizov’s recent deal, I’m not surprised if that number is the starting point, not the ceiling. For the Kings, this isn’t just about re-signing a player; it’s about defining the next era of their franchise.
The True Value of Adrian Kempe to the Kings
Let’s be clear: Adrian Kempe is the offensive engine of this Los Angeles Kings team. At 29, he’s in his prime, consistently leading the team in goal-scoring while playing a responsible, effective two-way game. You can’t just replace that. More importantly, he shows up when the games matter most, with an impressive 29 points in 28 playoff contests. With the legendary Anze Kopitar hanging up his skates at the end of the season, Kempe’s leadership and production become absolutely indispensable. Losing him would create a vacuum that would undoubtedly send the Kings spiraling back into a rebuild, a place no one in that organization wants to revisit.
The front office has to look at the numbers and the on-ice product and ask themselves a simple question: Are we a contender without Adrian Kempe? The answer is a resounding no. The rising salary cap gives them the flexibility, with a projected $33.7 million in space for 2026-27. The money is there. The question is about term. An eight-year deal carries risk, as it would take him to age 37. From my perspective, a five-year contract around that $10.5 million AAV is the sweet spot. It secures their star through his prime without handcuffing the franchise a decade from now. If the Kings hesitate, I can name a dozen GMs who would line up to pay him. This is a negotiation GM Ken Holland simply cannot afford to lose.
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The post The Adrian Kempe Dilemma: Can the Los Angeles Kings Afford to Keep Their Star? appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
