On a recent episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, which featured former player and former King Sean Avery, Avery praised Adrian Kempe and the Los Angeles Kings. He described Kempe as one of the best all-around players in the league and mentioned that the Kings pose a significant threat as the season progresses.
Paul Bissonette has been a longtime advocate for the Kings, mainly dating back to the intense rivalry (one-sided) with the Edmonton Oilers. In that rivalry, Kempe has recorded 19 points (11 goals, 8 assists) in 18 games. Ryan Whitney highlighted this contribution, noting that Kempe has been the best player in their playoff matchups over the past three seasons. However, some podcast crew members expressed skepticism, believing that the Kings might be pretenders.
It’s challenging to fully endorse the Kings, given their history of being a strong regular-season team that struggles in the playoffs. If the strategy is to avoid specific teams to achieve playoff success, can the team be considered successful?
In the past, the Kings have been labeled as “frauds,” especially after experiencing three consecutive first-round exits. Nonetheless, receiving early praise from such a popular NHL podcast is a positive sign for a team on the rise, mainly as they compete without their top defenseman.
Kempe’s recognition is long overdue. He has been a dominant force since his breakout season in 2021-22 when he finally earned a full-time role alongside the steadfast captain, Anze Kopitar. That season, he scored 35 goals, followed by a remarkable 41 goals the next season, becoming the first Kings player to do so since Luc Robitaille.
Last season, Kempe achieved a career-high 75 points (28 goals, 47 assists) in 77 games, finishing with a +13 rating. Since his breakout, he has become a complete player, finally receiving the acknowledgment he deserves. He is on track for his best season yet, leading the team in points last season and maintaining pace alongside the remarkable Kopitar. In 34 games this season, Kempe has a balanced stat line of 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points and a +17 rating.
Kempe has also been announced as a selection for Sweden in the Four Nations Faceoff, where his inclusion in the top six is considered a no-brainer. As the 29th overall pick in the 2014 draft, he has emerged as a homegrown talent for the Kings and is set to continue being one of the leaders of this LA team. With an average annual value of $5.5 million over this season and next, the Kings look to have one of the best bargain contracts in the league.
