We continue our offseason look at the LA Kings by focusing on a key member of the team. Today it’s leading goal scorer Adrian Kempe. Has he proven he is among the elite goal scorers in the NHL? Does he still have another level he can take his game to? We talk about that and more on this episode of Locked on LA Kings.
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8 Comments
Hey Eddie I grow up with the la kings since 2005 when they drafted quick do you think we will ever have a franchise player like Adrian Kempe or Kevin Fiala and will the la kings win 1 or more Stanley cups with the same players they have now or different players and team
Hi Eddie, I've been a Kings fan since the 1986-1987 season. Luc Robitallie's rookie year if you remember that season. My thoughts on Adrian Kempe. The guy can shoot the puck that's for sure. Quite an exciting player to watch with his speed and that shot of his. Would like to see his playmaking increase and become a little more creative. I would like to see that first line become a lot more dangerous. It will be interesting who the Kings throw on left wing to fill out that line and make it a force to be reckoned with. Like Adrian's character, he's got that fantastic hair, easy to root for him. Really proud of him hitting the 40 goal mark this year and he gives the Kings some stability on that top line
Hi Eddie, I have a couple questions for you. 1, Do the Kings give a qualifying offer to Zack McQuan of let him go to free agency? Who do the Kings part with to pick up some cap space?
Hey Eddie love your work and I must say I love how well Kempe handled himself this season. He looked like someone who is going to be a stable contributor in this organization. I see him scoring more goals next season as well.
Kempe had 41 goals in the regular season. 4 goals in the playoffs. 45 goals total.
There was a 3 week span before LA called up Byfield where they put him on the left side to accommodate Vilardi on the right side on the first line. He stopped scoring goals. They then moved him to center. Nothing.
As soon as they put him back on the right side he started scoring again. It was funny. He went somewhere around 9 games on the left without scoring a goal. Late in a game the Kings pulled the goalie to try and tie it. Kempe played a whole 7 seconds on the right wing… And scored the tying goal.
I flipped out a bit on the lakingsinsider complaining about him playing the left. 😂
I truly believe had LA not switched him off that right wing position he would've scored 50 goals this season and i think next season, if healthy, he will score 50 goals next season.
Eddie, Todd McClellan guided Kings theough the rebuild for 4 yrs but I am concerned that he isn't the right coach to lead us to win the Stanley Cup. For one, he says the ingredients for a much improved PK is in the room. If it was in the room already, then why didn't it improve as the series developed? Obviously Trent Yawney failed badly as he was responsible for it, so he has to be fired. If Tmac doesn't do that, then he has to be replaced for head coach. Secondly, Tmac needs to mix up the defense instead of always using a passive 1-3-1; go after the puck carrier aggressively and mix in 2-2-1 and 2-3 in the neutral zone. PK has to be a lot more aggressive towards the puck carrier. Re: Blake, he also needs to step it up after trading away the 1st rounder for 2 rentals & after the awful Cal 3 yr/ $15m contract, and to fill the hole in goal & LHD. And Kopitar will become the greatest King ever if he can win a 3rd Cup as a King; otherwise, it will be a tie with Brownie. I think Kopi signs a 2-3 yr extension so a Cup may be won for the 3rd time. Tough decisions to be made by Blake due to narrow cap space so we shall find out how good he really is.
Kempe has always stood out to me.
You can tell he has that leadership quality, but also the ability to be a great player.
Very excited to see what he does in the future.
I’m banking on Byfield to do the same
I've always believed whoever won the kigs/Oilers series would win the cup. Bad draw for LA. Todd McLellan's a great coach. Roster is incredibly talented and workable, but slightly overpaid on a "dollars per expected goal differential per (game or minute, your choice) played".
Kings have a ton of picks available, 3.8m in cap. Id upgrade for value, trading picks, targeting deep playoff runs during Doughty's contract, before having a PROPER DEEP tank for picks. None of this San-Jose-Karlsson-ruins-the-tank stuff.