On November 16, 2025, forward Adrian Kempe signed an eight-year extension worth $10.625 million average annual value (AAV) with the Los Angeles Kings. This is a crucial deal for Kempe himself and for the franchise as they look for a replacement following the retirement of captain Anže Kopitar at the end of the 2025-2026 season. The 29-year-old Swedish native has been essential in providing an elite presence combination of scoring, speed and playmakingserving as a physical presence that makes him the complete two-way veteran the Kings need.
Related: Kings’ early season observations
Drafted 29th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Kempe has developed into the type of player the organization could build its offense around in the long run. General manager Ken Holland had previously expressed his satisfaction and endorsement of Kempe’s playing style and statistics, clearly seeing him as the cornerstone of franchise values. His speed and versatility make him a consistent threat and powerhouse that the rest of the NHL has learned to respect, making him one of the best two-way players in the league.
Kempe joins the Kings
Looking at Kempe’s previous season to date, there is room for improvement as his best season in the NHL came in 2022-2023 where he collected 41 goals, 26 assists and 67 points in 82 games. In the seasons that followed, he surpassed the 70-point mark, as he scored 75 points in the 2023/24 season and 73 points in 2024/25. Although he didn’t hit the same 40-goal mark, his new cap of $10.625 million is a strong bet on the Swedish forward’s ability to reach an even higher level. The Kings clearly believe Kempe can remain a core engine in their top six.
Despite his impressive stats, some of the areas where Kempe can improve are his scoring opportunities. In recent seasons we have shown greater scoring opportunities, while this season there has been a slow dip in consistency. Furthermore, the need to find a replacement for Kopitar at the end of the season puts understandable pressure on the top centres, who will need to step up and produce more effectively to maintain the team’s overall competitiveness as they transition into next season.
A Top-Six driver
Kempe acted as a leader last season, especially during critical moments in the match. His performance helped the Kings clinch a spot in the playoffs and further contributed his skills to the growing team. By signing this contract extension, the Kings are demonstrating their confidence in Kempe’s potential and cementing him within the organization for a long time.
A key part of the Kramfors native’s success is his dominance on the power play. He remains a top man within the unit and one of the few core players whose output is consistent and important to the team’s strategy. With his quick release, the 1.80 meter tall right winger has a strong 14.8% shooting percentage, highlighting why he has become a consistent offensive force for Los Angeles.
All in all, we can say that Kempe has earned this contract extension. Not just driving pucks to the net, but also backchecking, killing penalties and having chemistry with top centers. He embodies the ideal winger in the league: agility, reliability in high-pressure and critical situations, and a heavy shot that accurately creates scoring opportunities. His contributions helped create the best home field advantage in the NHL during the 2024-2025 season. The Kings posted a franchise record of 31-6-4 at home, good for 66 points and making them the league’s most dominant team.
By locking up Kempe long-term, the Kings not only retain one of their most dynamic and speedy forwards, but also a leader on and off the ice who will help propel the team into a post-Kopitar future.
#Adrian #Kempe #destined #Kings #captain #Hockey #Writers #Los #Angeles #Kings #Breaking #news #analysis