Rumor: Planning Ahead: 2019 Off-Season Part 2

[Raccoon Jesus]

When Kempe was a second line center, the Kings made the playoffs and Kopitar had his career best offensive season. I don’t think it was a coincidence this team started to regress when Carter returned to the lineup and was force fed minutes.

To be fair we basically didn't have a 2C from February on, Kempe's last goal came on Feb 7th, and he only had 11 points the rest of the year.

You're right that it wasn't a coincidence, the hole opened up before that as Kempe started to fade, possibly tire from the big role.

I still think Kempe is better as a winger. If we ever get better centers, it just might make him transition to wing.

Possibly. More tools, less thinking there.

It's pretty clear he's got the skills to be the guy to lug the puck up ice like Carter and Kopitar but not really the IQ to do much more once he gains the line., though maybe that will come with experience

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Kempe also has produced better numbers and performed better offensively the last few international competitions he’s attended. I think a coach like Todd McLellan could get the most out of Kempe. His teams generally play an up-tempo style that likes to attack with speed.

 

[Schmooley]

I like Kempe a lot especially when he plays with an edge. If he can bring that energy on a daily basis and find just a little bit more offensive touch he will be a great player for the Kings now and in the future.
I agree that he played better when Carter was out. Maybe the increased role and ice time gave him a chance to get engaged into a game.
Maybe Im one of his biggest supporters on here because I think he has the tools to cut it as a good middle six center. Like a poster said above he can take the puck up ice well and at center that is a nice skill.

 

[kings11]

I like Kempe a lot especially when he plays with an edge. If he can bring that energy on a daily basis and find just a little bit more offensive touch he will be a great player for the Kings now and in the future.
I agree that he played better when Carter was out. Maybe the increased role and ice time gave him a chance to get engaged into a game.
Maybe Im one of his biggest supporters on here because I think he has the tools to cut it as a good middle six center. Like a poster said above he can take the puck up ice well and at center that is a nice skill.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that Kempe had that amazing start with TP and TT because those two actually had it going but once they cooled so did Kempe. Kempe cannot be made into a thinker, the kid needs to play with speed and create off of that... hence once he’s officially allowed to play LW, even with Carts and Toffoli he should see at least a 10pt increase..
what would we think of;
Prokhorkin-Kopitar-Kovalchuk
Kempe-Carter-Toffoli
Iafallo-Amadio-Brown
Clifford-Lewis-Wagner
Or something along those lines

 

[johnjm22]

They had Kempe playing RW in the WC and he looked pretty good. So that's an option as well.

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kovalchuk-Carter-Toffoli
Grundstrom-Prokhorkin-Kempe
Clifford-Amadio-Wagner
Lewis

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Plus on the wall Kempe will be more physically engaged and he thrives when people poke the bear and piss him off.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Plus on the wall Kempe will be more physically engaged and he thrives when people poke the bear and piss him off.

 

[Kingsfan1]

Kempe has also worked out the entire offseason both on and off the ice and should surprise some people this year with a coach like TMac .

Pretty excited for once for the season to start . Can’t wait to see what team we ice and how it shapes up by the end of the year

 

[Reaper45]

That punch by Smith right after Kempe fixes his hair is the worst punch I've ever seen thrown by anyone.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That punch by Smith right after Kempe fixes his hair is the worst punch I've ever seen thrown by anyone.

LOL

While Kempe's nonchalantly fixing his hair, Smith is switching to his opposite hand and throwing a punch that misses by like two feet

 

[Reaper45]

LOL

While Kempe's nonchalantly fixing his hair, Smith is switching to his opposite hand and throwing a punch that misses by like two feet

My 2 year old twins throw better punches.

 

[tomd]

Kempe has to decide if he wants to be a hockey player or a pretty boy sex symbol. He reminds me a lot of Gene Carr for all you old timers.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Kempe has to decide if he wants to be a hockey player or a pretty boy sex symbol. He reminds me a lot of Gene Carr for all you old timers.

Kempe was more engaged than 90% of the team last year. He definitely comes off as a smug asshole at times, but I don't question his effort. He's just not THAT good. Reminds me of when we had Derek Armstrong at 2C..

 

[Stimpythecat]

Smith noticed that Kempe's hair was a little wet so he fanned on the punch to help Kempe air dry his hair.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Kempe was more engaged than 90% of the team last year. He definitely comes off as a smug ******* at times, but I don't question his effort. He's just not THAT good. Reminds me of when we had Derek Armstrong at 2C..

The only time Kempe got to play with 2 'skilled' players on a consistent basis, was his rookie season with TT and Pearson....even then, hard to call Person a skilled player,
but he was decent. Point is, Kempe was scoring consistently and was not getting much PP time. I think he was close to matching TT and Pearson's ES numbers.
When Kempe plays on the Swedish National Teams, he's also playing with skilled players and putting up points. When Kempe plays with skilled players on a consistent basis, he puts up points.
He will probably never score 60 pts, but I bet he could score 50 with some PP time and playing
with skilled players on his line.

Whether or not you're a fan of former coach John Stevens, Steven told the scouting staff (prior to 2018 draft) "get me another Kempe". That alone
speaks well of Adrian and came from his coach. Kempe is not a problem, but part of a solution here, if you give him Grundtrom (they played
well together) and another skilled player, to play with CONSISTENTLY. Yes, he's had some bad streaks, but even Brown, TT and Carter had 20 games without a goal (or maybe 1 )
last year. Oh, and the 0 goals the first 17 games Pearson had last season, before being jettisoned. And Brown was line 1 and PP time. Then there's Kopi and 1 PP all year. There are bigger problems than Adrian Kempe. He's alwaysgiving a good effort and been pretty physical as well.

Last year, on line 3, it was like musical chairs: Luff...Wagner...Kempe...Leipsic...Amadio...Kovalchuk...Grundstrom and most players will tell you they play better, with consistent linemates. There's really no excuse not to play well and produce some, but it's best to have some consistency. I know Kempe was even in some top 10 NHL stats early that season, he took over for Carter...was it shooting percentage?

 

[Choralone]

Dropping Kempe knowledge

Yup. As you said, Kempe is part of the solution, not the problem.

 

[BringTheReign]

Any thoughts on Julius Honka? Seems to be the odd man out in Dallas. Wish we could get him on a PTO, but I'm pretty sure he's an unsigned RFA right now.

 

[The Tikkanen]

Minor correction...over 24 on this board...

Right, 24 is when you're slamming energy drinks to stay awake because of all of the abuse your body has taken.

 

[Sol]

I still think Kempe is better as a winger. If we ever get better centers, it just might make him transition to wing.

Hmm I don't think I can agree with that. He performed extremly well when Carter went down the season before as Center. He did lose steam but it was also his first time having those kind of minutes. Seems a bit difficult to say where his fit actually is since he hasn't been "awarded" ice time for his play. Carter has been bringing the second line down every time he's hit ice nowadays.

Kempe is a talented player. He needs talented wingers. But yeah you can say he does fit the mold of a speedy dangling winger.

 

[Sol]

Kempe has also worked out the entire offseason both on and off the ice and should surprise some people this year with a coach like TMac .

Pretty excited for once for the season to start . Can’t wait to see what team we ice and how it shapes up by the end of the year

Do you know who else from the Kings have been training hard this offseason?

 

[KINGS17]

Do you know who else from the Kings have been training hard this offseason?

I am interested in seeing the results from the fitness testing at the beginning of camp, but I doubt the Kings will publish them. Lombardi only alluded to the results in the past, so I expect even less from Blake on this front.

 

[Kingsfan1]

Do you know who else from the Kings have been training hard this offseason?

From what I’ve heard and read , Kempe has been going ham ! Should be huge year for him this year . Also Brown , Martinez , Forbort , Kovy have been working out more than they have in previous off seasons . One prospect also Sodergran , he has been working in similar workouts to Kempe and could be huge this year in Ontario . I like to think he will be a steal of a pick for us

 

[kingsholygrail]

when we had Derek Armstrong at 2C

 

[The Tikkanen]

I am interested in seeing the results from the fitness testing at the beginning of camp, but I doubt the Kings will publish them. Lombardi only alluded to the results in the past, so I expect even less from Blake on this front.

Teams only report when a guy flunks badly like that kid who came in with 25% body fat last summer, Jake Dotchin. I have a feeling some Kings were close to 20 by the way they played last season.

 

[KINGS17]

From what I’ve heard and read , Kempe has been going ham ! Should be huge year for him this year . Also Brown , Martinez , Forbort , Kovy have been working out more than they have in previous off seasons . One prospect also Sodergran , he has been working in similar workouts to Kempe and could be huge this year in Ontario . I like to think he will be a steal of a pick for us

If this is true, a couple of the usual suspects are missing.