Adrian Kempe has been one of the Los Angeles Kings’ top players in recent seasons, recording back-to-back 70+ point campaigns, an achievement that has solidified him as a central piece of the team. Currently, rumors about his future with the franchise are starting to grow.
With one year remaining on his contract, Los Angeles is preparing for a potential negotiation scenario. The Kings’ decision will be crucial. If they wait too long, Kempe could become open to agreeing with other teams willing to offer him a higher salary on the open market.
In this context, the franchise has strong reasons to act carefully: signing him now to a big deal could limit their flexibility with other key players, but letting negotiations drag too far could mean losing one of their top offensive producers. A recent update already hints at what the future might look like for Kempe and the Kings.
Will Kempe remain with the Kings?
In the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, well-known analyst Elliotte Friedman made it clear that Adrian Kempe will be seeking a very large contract as free agency approaches. Friedman noted, “I think he’s going to want a big number, a very big number; so… will they sign him? Will he enter the year unsigned?” This highlights that negotiations are heading into a critical stage.
Kempe’s contract situation
He signed a four-year extension on July 8, 2022, worth a total of $22 million, with an average annual value (cap hit) of $5.5 million. In this context, his contract will expire at the end of the 2025–26 season, at which point he will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA).
Kempe could demand over $10 million per year in his next deal, with the possibility of a long-term contract totaling between $80 and $90 million. For the Kings, with plenty of salary cap space, this could be financially viable.