Kings Article: Adrian Kempe Is Getting A Long, Hard Look At Center During LA Kings Training Camp

[FrozenRoyalty]

After playing on left wing for the vast majority of the 2015-16 season with the American Hockey League's Ontario Reign, forward Adrian Kempe is playing at the center position during the Loa Angeles Kings 2016 Training Camp, and the adjustments aren't easy for the speedy, skilled forward out of Sweden.

How is his training camp going, given that he's having to adjust to playing center instead of left wing? What are the Kings seeing and expecting from him? Any hints about where he might play this season? In the AHL with the Reign, or in the NHL with the Kings?

For all that, check out...

Adrian Kempe Is Getting A Long, Hard Look At Center During LA Kings Training Camp

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[KingCanadain1976]

great read ty for the article I watched him last night and he looked good to me If shore and/or dowd get off to a slow start i could see him in la by xmass

 

[Trolfoli]

Seeing if he can be an effective center? Got nothing to lose by trying it.

 

[AlphaBravo]

Kempe looked solid yesterday, but I don't think he should be in our opening lineup. He needs another year of development, with a mid-season call up for his cup of coffee this season. Not a knock on Kempe, but I thought Dowd outplayed him for the 3 or 4c position from the games yesterday.

 

[Fishhead]

Kempe looked solid yesterday, but I don't think he should be in our opening lineup. He needs another year of development, with a mid-season call up for his cup of coffee this season. Not a knock on Kempe, but I thought Dowd outplayed him for the 3 or 4c position from the games yesterday.

Agreed, I think Dowd has been the best center in camp period. It helps when Carter is returning from injury and Kopi is gone, but still it's impressive. He's big, tenacious, and assertive.

I'm sure Kempe was over thinking a bit because he was playing center instead of wing (where he's mostly been playing). It would be nice to see a game with Kempe on Dowd's wing.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I find that Kempe being moved to C is mostly because of the fact that the organization barely has any center depth within the pipeline.

With Dowd and Shore likely filling the #3 and #4 center roles (if Shore is healthy, otherwise there is Lewis, Andreoff and Latta in contention there), they only have one top six center in Ontario in Mike Amadio.

 

[Trolfoli]

I find that Kempe being moved to C is mostly because of the fact that the organization barely has any center depth within the pipeline.

With Dowd and Shore likely filling the #3 and #4 center roles (if Shore is healthy, otherwise there is Lewis, Andreoff and Latta in contention there), they only have one top six center in Ontario in Mike Amadio.

The other part could be they think his skills could be really good at center and want to see if Kempe can excel at a more difficult position.

 

[tsanuri]

I find that Kempe being moved to C is mostly because of the fact that the organization barely has any center depth within the pipeline.

With Dowd and Shore likely filling the #3 and #4 center roles (if Shore is healthy, otherwise there is Lewis, Andreoff and Latta in contention there), they only have one top six center in Ontario in Mike Amadio.

It's like we are flush at wing either.
But any player that can play both wing and center becomes more valuable to the team.

 

[King'sPawn]

He's very similar to Carter where his speed excels with the open ice at center. Hopefully he can make the adjustment

 

[yankeeking]

the game last Monday night against the coyotes he centered 70-73 and they had multi point nights and he didn't look out of place, in fact he had a couple of moves that makes me think when he does make the squad we are going to be on the edge of our seats when he is on the ice, its been a while since we had that

 

[damacles1156]

Winger skill set,

Kings management...for the love of god don't make the same mistake, that you made with Linden Vey.

 

[Trolfoli]

Winger skill set,

Kings management...for the love of god don't make the same mistake, that you made with Linden Vey.

Or Carter.

 

[damacles1156]

Or Carter.

Kempe is not even close to being as skilled.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Kempe was a natural centre. I suspect when he does crack into the NHL it will be at wing but eventually he will be back at centre. Much like Jeff Carter, another guy with a "winger skill set" that thrives at centre.

 

[damacles1156]

Kempe was a natural centre. I suspect when he does crack into the NHL it will be at wing but eventually he will be back at centre. Much like Jeff Carter, another guy with a "winger skill set" that thrives at centre.

I don't see it.

The Kid doesn't posses the scoring touch at Center or the transition he displays at Wing. His game gets bogged down in the Kings system.

Kempe is much more effective as a winger, where he can use his speed and size.

Kempe is also not very natural at Draws, he would have to work extremely hard to get better at taking face-off's.

Also doesn't posses that tenacity at 200ft of hockey the Kings (demand at Center).

He could develop all that, but why force the guy down that road. His skills seem much better suited as a Winger.

 

[Trolfoli]

The entire reason for trying things, experiments if you will, is to see what actually happens. Sometimes the results you get aren't what you expect. Sometimes a talented kid can find a level he didn't know he had. Sometimes they fail. If that's the case it's back down to the AHL and we have a good wing in a year or 2.

The center position right now is a fight between Dowd/Shore/Latta, maybe Kempe can edge some of those guys out.

Either way, a few preseason games aren't going to derail Kempe's career.

 

[damacles1156]

The entire reason for trying things, experiments if you will, is to see what actually happens. Sometimes the results you get aren't what you expect. Sometimes a talented kid can find a level he didn't know he had. Sometimes they fail. If that's the case it's back down to the AHL and we have a good wing in a year or 2.

The center position right now is a fight between Dowd/Shore/Latta, maybe Kempe can edge some of those guys out.

Either way, a few preseason games aren't going to derail Kempe's career.

Nothing wrong with that.

I just hope they don't force him.

 

[King'sPawn]

The entire reason for trying things, experiments if you will, is to see what actually happens. Sometimes the results you get aren't what you expect. Sometimes a talented kid can find a level he didn't know he had. Sometimes they fail. If that's the case it's back down to the AHL and we have a good wing in a year or 2.

The center position right now is a fight between Dowd/Shore/Latta, maybe Kempe can edge some of those guys out.

Either way, a few preseason games aren't going to derail Kempe's career.

I agree. Well said. Sometimes you have to see something not work before you can say "This isn't going to work."

Like moving Brian Boyle to defense.

 

[Omni Owl]

C or LW, I'm still excited for this kid to break into the league. I think he's going to be very good for us down the line.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

I don't see it.

The Kid doesn't posses the scoring touch at Center or the transition he displays at Wing. His game gets bogged down in the Kings system.

Kempe is much more effective as a winger, where he can use his speed and size.

Kempe is also not very natural at Draws, he would have to work extremely hard to get better at taking face-off's.

Also doesn't posses that tenacity at 200ft of hockey the Kings (demand at Center).

He could develop all that, but why force the guy down that road. His skills seem much better suited as a Winger.

Again all the exact same things were said about Carter early in his career. And Kempe has a very very similar skill set to Carter at 20. He is maybe even faster than Carter, but otherwise very similar.

Remember Kempe is a natural centre. That's where I saw him play in the SHL when I had him ranked in my top 10 for the draft. In the offensive zone nothing changes, but his smart positioning and size can be real effective in the breakouts and winning battles down low in the defensive zone.