Yo Adrian (Kempe)! Sign ! On the dotted line...

[BringTheReign]

Two recent examples worth comping if I'm blake:

Debrusk signed for two years, 4 million, bridging him. Will still be an RFA.

McCann signed for 5x5 after breaking out this year, will be an RFA. That's an ideal contract.

Shit Toffoli signed for 4 x $4M and he was a 30 goal scorer and Cup winner at that point.

 

[BringTheReign]

I’ll add that I actually think Danault’s contract and his breakout year help Blake as well. Danault plays a more important position and almost scored 30 and he’s only making $5.5M.

 

[MBH]

The other years he was playing with guys like Wagner, early version of Lizotte, Luff, Amadio…
He was mostly a center. Mostly everyone on this board thought he sucked.
He was put in a position to succeed last year and he ran with it.
You arent wrong about maybe doing a bridge deal. You just cant compare numbers from previous years when was on the grinder carousel.

You have to.
You can't just act like last year is the real Kempe. You have to take into account his track record.
If you give him a 6-7 year deal - and then decide you have better first line options...
And then see Kempe's production fall to 18 goals... then that's on you.
Kempe played a ton of minutes last year.
He went 17-8-25 at 5 on 5.
Iafallo, the team's whipping boy much of the year, went 11-14-25.
Trevor Moore went 8-26-34
Dustin Brown went 7-15-22 in 250 fewer minutes.

Would it be that hard to see Fiala, Arvidsson, Kalyev and someone else oust Kempe, not only from the top line, but from the top 6?

Kempe is a product of his icetime and opportunity. And I don't think you overpay on that.

 

[Schmooley]

You have to.
You can't just act like last year is the real Kempe. You have to take into account his track record.
If you give him a 6-7 year deal - and then decide you have better first line options...
And then see Kempe's production fall to 18 goals... then that's on you.
Kempe played a ton of minutes last year.
He went 17-8-25 at 5 on 5.
Iafallo, the team's whipping boy much of the year, went 11-14-25.
Trevor Moore went 8-26-34
Dustin Brown went 7-15-22 in 250 fewer minutes.

Would it be that hard to see Fiala, Arvidsson, Kalyev and someone else oust Kempe, not only from the top line, but from the top 6?

Kempe is a product of his icetime and opportunity. And I don't think you overpay on that.

I agree he shouldnt get an overpayment based on one year. But he wasnt as bad as his previous numbers suggested also. Anything more than 6 is too high. 5.5 is comfortable for all sides I think.

 

[mysterman2]

Gotta be ready to bridge deal Kempe.
Goals
16
12
11
14
35
Which one is not like the others?
If he wants to get paid like a 35-goal guy, he needs to show it again.

im sure his agent will totally be amenable to that.

 

[MBH]

im sure his agent will totally be amenable to that.

Who cares? He scored 54 points playing 18 minutes a night.
No offense, but that's crap.
Kempe got pressed higher into the lineup than he should have been because the Kings' talent levels have dropped.
How many times have you seen this? Guy pressed into Line 1. Scores lots of points. Gets contract.

Then as the team gets better, he falls into a depth role and returns to his regular level.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Shit, I HOPE they use Fiala as a comparable.

The answer is yes, fiala is near PPG for the last three years in a role that didn't even feature him close to the team's best player.

Kempe's best season outside of the one with league-inflated numbers was 37 points 4 years ago and he's had comparable C and deployment to Fiala. he paced for 42 points last year so at least he's shown minor improvement there, but nothing like Fiala's ever-upward trajectory.

Anything under 6 is a fantastic deal, I expect 6-6.5 x 5-6 at this rate, though I'd much prefer 5.5x5. Anything over 6.5 is f***ing robbery. He's also still an RFA so at worst qualify/bridge him.

Kempe can’t hold Fiala’s jock. Anything over 6 for AK is an overpayment IMO.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Gotta be ready to bridge deal Kempe.
Goals
16
12
11
14
35
Which one is not like the others?
If he wants to get paid like a 35-goal guy, he needs to show it again.

I think that's another great alternative.

If you want security/to get 'paid,' take our 5.5x5.

If you want to prove to us that last season was real and make more, take this 2 year bridge.

 

[Stimpythecat]

Looking at CapFriendly we currently have 12 million in space?

Adrian Kempe = 6
Carl Grundstrom = 1.5
Brendan Lemieux = 1.5
Gabe Vilardi = 1
Mikey Anderson = 2.5
Sean Durzi = 1.5

That right there is 14 million? You gotta think we move a roster player or two right? Walker/Iafallo

Capfriendly lists 16 signed but that doesn't include Doty and Walker on LTIR but their caps hits are included. So that's 18 signed. Aside from an Iafallo trade, at least one out of the 6 of the above will not be on the team if everyone is healthy.

That could mean a trade or starting the year in Ontario.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Who cares? He scored 54 points playing 18 minutes a night.
No offense, but that's crap.
Kempe got pressed higher into the lineup than he should have been because the Kings' talent levels have dropped.
How many times have you seen this? Guy pressed into Line 1. Scores lots of points. Gets contract.

Then as the team gets better, he falls into a depth role and returns to his regular level.

There were a few changes to Kempe's game. Being able to hit the net with a one timer on the PP. He also used his speed to go wide on the D & generated multiple high danger chances per game. Kempe should be able to keep both of those up. His points may drop down due to the league playing better defense next year, but Kempe should still be effective.


Much over 5.5 and it will start forcing Blake to make cuts to fit the contract.
Kempe has made just over 8 so far in his career. Kings can hand him 8 in year 1 of his contract & throw down 40 long term. Don't think he can turn that down.

 

[unicornpig]

hes had one good year....

nothing over 5.3

 

[AbsentMojo]

Does anyone envision a way to secure Forsberg and let Kempe walk without risk of losing both? This implies trade of Iafallo.

 

[AbsentMojo]

But WD40 was so bad, we got QB at #2! That year was a horrible dumpster fire that I hope never to see again.

And didnt the dummy win last 7 to end the season when he shouldve been tanking? yet still got the ping pong ball at #2.. better lucky than good.. Edit: eh - that was Koala first season

 

[kilowatt]

And didnt the dummy win last 7 to end the season when he shouldve been tanking? yet still got the ping pong ball at #2.. better lucky than good.. Edit: eh - that was Koala first season

LA finished the 2018-19 season 8-15-5, including a ten game losing streak.

So what would a bridge deal look like for Kempe? 2 years, $4 million per year?

 

[Choralone]

Don't shortchange my man:

He's gold alone for deftly entering the zone.
He's brings a burst of speed like Apollo Creed.
He lands a blow while brushing his flow.
He's not a dork, he says bork bork bork.

That's what a BA in English buys you, ladies and gents: one stanza.

 

[Stimpythecat]

Does anyone envision a way to secure Forsberg and let Kempe walk without risk of losing both? This implies trade of Iafallo.

Trades would have to happen. Two of Kempe, Iafallo, and a goalie.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

And didnt the dummy win last 7 to end the season when he shouldve been tanking? yet still got the ping pong ball at #2.. better lucky than good.. Edit: eh - that was Koala first season

Right, that was TM...and nobody knew it was the end of the season because it ended abruptly after 70 games.

 

[Lt Dan]

The only thing that concerns me is that Blake isn’t great at contract negotiations. Have we signed anyone and said “Wow, great deal”?

Yes. Danault, Walker and Roy

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Yes. Danault, Walker and Roy

How about Iafallo?

 

[Lt Dan]

How about Iafallo?

He is not living up to his contract

 

[AbsentMojo]

LA finished the 2018-19 season 8-15-5, including a ten game losing streak.

So what would a bridge deal look like for Kempe? 2 years, $4 million per year?

Ya, I was off by a year.. (thinking of the following season). I picture a bridge deal being more money shorter term. e.g. 2 years at 6 mil would be reasonable. I do not want to see long term deal with AAV > 5.5 (like others have said as well)

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

He is not living up to his contract

He was exceeding his contract the first half of the season and ended the season with 17 goals, 37 points in 79 games. Not sure it's fair to say he's not living up to his contract when he's only played one season through it. What's the market rate for a 0.5 PPG player?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

What

Iafallo scored 37 points last year, even clearly messed up somehow. This is the first year in the league he didn't improve heavily year over year and until things fell apart--whether you believe it's an injury or just crap play--he was on pace for 55ish points, which WOULD have represented an increase. I can't believe how many people are shitting all over this guy for a bad half-season that's easily explainable, or at the very least forgivable, given his otherwise strong consistency and repeated year-over-year growth.

Iafallo made 4 million last year. Contract comparables +/- a couple hundred thousand:

Debrusk, 42 points.
Roslovic, 45 points.
Fabbri, 30 points.
Donskoi, 22 points.
Nick Foligno, 13 points.
Jenner, 44 pints.
Beauvillier, 34 points.
Verhaeghe, 55 points.
Toffoli, Arvidsson, Bennet--49 points.

He's right in there especially considering the Kings' offense tax. Come on folks. AI is just the latest Kings top-sixer to get run out of town and then we go looking for his replacement for the same price immediately anyway.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

I am sure Kempe's agent will make the 35 goals the main talking point and the value of that level of goal scoring as comps for what his client should get. Other high marks would be 3 SHG, 2 OTG and 7 GWG; all great.

But when you factor icetime / overall production, the -2 and only 19 assists, those are low marks.
You cannot compare Kempe's 35 goals to Fiala's 33. Fiala had 52 assists - on line 2. Crazy. And was 22nd
in NHL scoring. (Kempe was 110th) Fiala is dynamic offensively. Was +23. He also had 7 GWG.

I think Kempe should get 5.5.

I am happy with the offseason, just getting Fiala and the ends of: Brown, AA, Maatta and Edler.
Any upgrades from here is great. Either Lemieux stays, or is replaced with another tough player.
I wish I knew how and why Lemieux was so great the first month and tailed off. He was never that level
again....wonder if he was playing through an injury. I'd be okay with Edler coming back, but think he will
be one level below what he was from his pre-ankle break. I'd rather go with Walker or Moverare and use
those funds towards locking down Kempe and Anderson. Moverare is underrated.

 

[BigKing]

There were a few changes to Kempe's game. Being able to hit the net with a one timer on the PP. He also used his speed to go wide on the D & generated multiple high danger chances per game. Kempe should be able to keep both of those up. His points may drop down due to the league playing better defense next year, but Kempe should still be effective.


Much over 5.5 and it will start forcing Blake to make cuts to fit the contract.
Kempe has made just over 8 so far in his career. Kings can hand him 8 in year 1 of his contract & throw down 40 long term. Don't think he can turn that down.

The big change was him moving to wing permanently which is where he has belonged the entire time. This allowed him to be the finisher on the Kopitar line while getting to use his speed more effectively.

This is his fourth season out of six total with a shooting percentage over 10% with one of the seasons that didn't hit that mark being his first "season" of only 25 games. This past season saw him completely blow away his previous shots on goal and shot attempt stats so here we are at 35 goals. He did have his best S% last year at ~14% but removing that number and using his average from before the season of 9.66% (which is a little unfair since it includes that 25 gams rookie season 6%), you get 24 goals last year. This isn't science by any means, but that should be his basement on similar deployment.

What you have to wonder is this:

- Will he get similar deployment with the addition of Fiala, i.e. will his shot attempts go down?
- On the flipside, will he get better chances on less shots playing with a real talent like Fiala?