Kempe Contract Watch Thread {Signed 8-year, $85 million - $10.63 AAV}

hokiecat said:
Oh yeah, the whole reason I jumped on LGK this morning...

Now we've got Eric Stephens trying to will 97 to LA into existence:
www.nytimes.com

Connor McDavid and the L.A. Kings: A fantasy, or history repeating itself?

McDavid's future in Edmonton remains cloudy. Is a move to Los Angeles feasible?
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
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Below from the article.
Of course it could be. McDavid is on the better team. He’s been to consecutive Stanley Cup finals and was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in a losing 2024 effort. For all the consternation and criticism over their roster construction, the Oilers have won the Western Conference for two seasons running and should enter the 2025-26 season as one of the conference favorites.
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I love all the nonsense in regards to McDavid and the Oilers. Pundits start by saying McDavid is the best player in the NHL, which he is. However, when they talk about where he can go to play other than Edmonton, they like to claim that there are not many teams as good as the Oilers. Well, if you remove McDavid from the Oilers there would be a lot of teams similar to the Oilers and many options for McDavid to go to.

He cannot be the best, most impactful player in the league and not have a significant (negative) impact to the Oilers if he leaves. Just as he will have a huge (positive) impact to his new team when he arrives. Those comments really are dumb IMO. It was mentioned in this article, but you hear this sentiment a lot in the media. It really is a stupid angle to take IMO.
 
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Wow. We are now fully entrenched in the ‘paying for potential’ era. We knew it was on the way, with the recent contracts like Byfield, McTavish, Hughes, LaCombe, and likely next up Hutson. Makes me shudder to think what we’re going to see with a Brandt Clarke extension.. ugh.
 
So, as salaries get out of hand in the NHL and GMs want more cost control, are we seeing the beginnings of the next lockout?
 
At this point, unless Kempe agrees to $9-$10M, it'd be smart for Holland to just wait to see how the season goes and how Kempe performs. It seems like Kempe's price is now higher...prob around ~12M after the latest signings.

If the Kings and Kempe play well, you give him the money. If not, you trade him if his demands are too high (as much as I'd hate to see him go). To date, Kempe's leverage is the highest it's ever been. His leverage could increase once the season starts, but it could also go down. That's the dice Holland needs to roll.
 
I will be surprised if Kempe signs here. Stuff like El Stinko blowing up and the LA letting the Palisades burn to the ground can have a sobering impact on spouses. I wouldn't be surprised if that is why Gavrikov left for less money--although in his case he may have jumped from the fire into a frying pan.
 
Statue4Deano said:
There is a hard salary cap tied to league revenue. Players have an individual cap on their max salary. Where are these salaries getting out of hand? This is the financial system the owners wanted.
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Yep, the owners got the system they wanted.

With regard to Kempe and his negotiation, I think there is a lot going on and I am yet to feel nervous about this eventually getting done.

While I am no expert (far from it) on this contract stuff, and am not tuned into the wealth of statistical data too much, I am curious about some of the way the negotiations have gone with players who are similar to Kempe wrt to entering the final year of current contract.

It looks to me like the players are waiting for certain shoes to drop, which is why we have the drip, drip, drip of signings.
First it was waiting to see where Marner went and for how much, then other free agents like Gavrikov. Then it was Kaprisov. And everyone is waiting to be see what McDavid will do. And Eichel is still tbd.
This is occurring at the same time the cap is increasing quickly and significantly. It almost looks like GM’s and agents are trying to figure this out on the fly. “What is the right figure today when the economic situation is changing dramatically?”

With Kempe I think there is some theater involved. Holland doesn’t want to act desperate or give in too quickly or easily. Kempe has an agent who wants to show he is fighting for his client. All the while the other signings are changing the landscape

I’m comforted by the fact that Kempe has been clear about wanting to stay, and Holland has been clear about wanting Kempe to be here. That’s what I focus on.

Of course we read comments and analysis from people who claim to be in the know, or close enough to know, but some of those people make money and/or get attention from trying to convince people that they have the inside info. They aren’t in the room, or part of the conversations. Whether they are speculating, or have some special knowledge, I have no idea. But I’m paying attention only to those who actually know what’s being discussed, and there is actually very little of it that’s been made public.

Kempe is a star who has earned a big contract. The Kings have been paying him well below his value. It would be absolutely insane to not sign him.
My guess is that Kempe signs for the max term with a cap hit between 10-11.5.

One final comment is that I had been very skeptical about the possibility of McDavid leaving Edmonton for LA, almost dismissing it immediately. However, I actually think it is very possible. Not saying it’s going to happen. But I would not be surprised if it does.
 
DoubleMinor said:
Yep, the owners got the system they wanted.

With regard to Kempe and his negotiation, I think there is a lot going on and I am yet to feel nervous about this eventually getting done.

While I am no expert (far from it) on this contract stuff, and am not tuned into the wealth of statistical data too much, I am curious about some of the way the negotiations have gone with players who are similar to Kempe wrt to entering the final year of current contract.

It looks to me like the players are waiting for certain shoes to drop, which is why we have the drip, drip, drip of signings.
First it was waiting to see where Marner went and for how much, then other free agents like Gavrikov. Then it was Kaprisov. And everyone is waiting to be see what McDavid will do. And Eichel is still tbd.
This is occurring at the same time the cap is increasing quickly and significantly. It almost looks like GM’s and agents are trying to figure this out on the fly. “What is the right figure today when the economic situation is changing dramatically?”

With Kempe I think there is some theater involved. Holland doesn’t want to act desperate or give in too quickly or easily. Kempe has an agent who wants to show he is fighting for his client. All the while the other signings are changing the landscape

I’m comforted by the fact that Kempe has been clear about wanting to stay, and Holland has been clear about wanting Kempe to be here. That’s what I focus on.

Of course we read comments and analysis from people who claim to be in the know, or close enough to know, but some of those people make money and/or get attention from trying to convince people that they have the inside info. They aren’t in the room, or part of the conversations. Whether they are speculating, or have some special knowledge, I have no idea. But I’m paying attention only to those who actually know what’s being discussed, and there is actually very little of it that’s been made public.

Kempe is a star who has earned a big contract. The Kings have been paying him well below his value. It would be absolutely insane to not sign him.
My guess is that Kempe signs for the max term with a cap hit between 10-11.5.

One final comment is that I had been very skeptical about the possibility of McDavid leaving Edmonton for LA, almost dismissing it immediately. However, I actually think it is very possible. Not saying it’s going to happen. But I would not be surprised if it does.
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From the beginning I assumed this was going to be a waiting game. The only way Kempe would sign anything over the summer was if Holland gave him something like 12m per. Otherwise Kempe's agent was just going to wait and see. You knew there were going to be overpays for players. Not so much at Kempe's level, but even below. How on earth can Kempe sign for 9m per with some of these contracts that guys have received who have proven nothing.

I still think Kempe will sign with the Kings.

As for McDavid. I have been hinting/joking about the possibility of him coming to LA. There are 3 reasons why I feel it is possible.
  1. McDavid does not like being in the spotlight.
  2. McDavid has stated that him and his wife love LA. (this has been in multiple interviews. Their favorite place to vacation)
  3. Holland is here. There is a familiarity with Holland.
What does any of the above really mean? Absolutely nothing. :)
 
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Kempe + Carter George for McDavid at the deadline, depending on how the season goes, with both agreeing to contract extensions prior to making the trade?

Sure, McDavid in this case doesn't have Kempe on his wing...but there are other quality wings on this team and McDavid makes anyone nearly a star.

I'm kidding. He'll resign.


Hopefully.
 
Bollocks said:
Kempe + Carter George for McDavid at the deadline, depending on how the season goes, with both agreeing to contract extensions prior to making the trade?

Sure, McDavid in this case doesn't have Kempe on his wing...but there are other quality wings on this team and McDavid makes anyone nearly a star.

I'm kidding. He'll resign.


Hopefully.
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I think the only way it makes sense for the Kings to acquire McDavid is signing him as a FA. The cost in assets in a trade is counterproductive. And I would imagine McDavid understands that.
 
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