Kempe, RFA

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Considering that he is ARB eligible, I went with trade at deadline since I think the Kings will be nowhere near the playoffs. Kempe is going to rightfully want more than his QO. If he goes to ARB, he will probably get it too.

We have plenty of kids who should be able to provide what Kempe does coming up soon, and we need to make space for them too. It never hurts to have an abundance of potential talent in the wings, as long as we get around to doing something with that potential talent.

Well when Kempe was out with Covid they brought up some of those kids they have and the Kings were not playing at the same level as with Kempe in the line up
 
Trade one of very few Kings that can back up, skate around a defense and actually score? Say what? The #1PP, not exactly a juggernaut even with a Kempe entry, without Kempe is hopeless as was painfully evident during his covid absence. Sign the man to a contract, he's a keeper.
 
Well when Kempe was out with Covid they brought up some of those kids they have and the Kings were not playing at the same level as with Kempe in the line up

Yup. And then I posted just yesterday that I changed my tune about trading him. He's a keeper for sure.
 
He's not our only speedy winger apparently?

1

Moore is sneaky fast. Turcotte is real fast on his feet in shorter bursts too. AA is like Wags with great straight line speed. Kupari is closer to Kempe in speed and the ability to make high skill moves with the puck at full throttle. The Kings are definitely not big and slow any longer.
 
Moore is sneaky fast. Turcotte is real fast on his feet in shorter bursts too. AA is like Wags with great straight line speed. Kupari is closer to Kempe in speed and the ability to make high skill moves with the puck at full throttle. The Kings are definitely not big and slow any longer.

We have lots of speed. I had just posted that with a pic that showed Kreider with an LA logo by his name for the All Star Game (pic wouldn't load, so posted a link - fixed now) Kempe's speed is remarkable and he's definitely not alone. Still wish Wagner could have learned to finish because I'm pretty sure he can outskate them all.
 
We have lots of speed. I had just posted that with a pic that showed Kreider with an LA logo by his name for the All Star Game (pic wouldn't load, so posted a link - fixed now) Kempe's speed is remarkable and he's definitely not alone. Still wish Wagner could have learned to finish because I'm pretty sure he can outskate them all.

Wags seems to be doing better in Ontario. I think he’s up to 10 goals for the season. More importantly, he is starting to contribute some assists so his passing may have improved as well. That part of his game was as bad as his breakaway skills in the NHL.
 
OK, I'm bored already. I'm not a fan of the two week break in the middle of the season. If they were playing the Super Bowl the next time they played that would be OK, however they are playing the Oilers. Now when I head out of town this week, I have nothing to watch in the hotel room. Just bored!

BTW, Kempe is fast and how Blake got Kreider for really nothing was an incredible move.
 
Wags seems to be doing better in Ontario. I think he’s up to 10 goals for the season. More importantly, he is starting to contribute some assists so his passing may have improved as well. That part of his game was as bad as his breakaway skills in the NHL.

I need to watch the Reign. Glad to hear he's finding his way and hope we get to see him at some point.
 
Just reading back through this thread and I think there's definitely 2 points:
Aaron still gonna trade him
Most of us are cautiously optimistic with the player, and probably going to be upset at his next contract. He's definitely doing his part in a contract year though.
 
Im usually a bridge fan, but wouldn't it make more sense for us if we can get kempe on a 8 year semi affordable deal? ... or bridge 2-3 years at a decent cap hit .. then pay through the roof he he continues to be this good ... and we end up looking through UFA for a kepme like player ... when we could have just paid for kempe in the first place? maybe im rambling .. haha but the coffee is good this morning
 
We're gonna have to pay up at this point. And I'm still not 100% sure we should.
 
Unless something unforeseen occurs, Kempe will score 30+.

Busted Chops has recanted... I wonder if the other 5 who voted "Trade at deadline" when this thread was introduced have re-evaluated their positions.

That said, Kempe's emergence as the #1 offensive threat on the team may throw a monkey wrench into the team's salary cap projections.

I still hope Blake can find a right shot forward who can put the puck in the net. But I am lowering my expectations about what level player that might be.

The deal the Kings will need to make due to Kempe's ascendance is also a good argument for targeting Chychrun with his reasonable, cost-controlled contract - but 4 first rounders is way out of control for the less-than-stellar player on display last night.
 
5x5 seem about right?

It's gonna take more than that. His cap hit's already 2 mil and he's 25. He's gonna want more. I'm thinking 5 years at 6-6.5. He's arbitration eligible so that doesn't help anything.
 
It's gonna take more than that. His cap hit's already 2 mil and he's 25. He's gonna want more. I'm thinking 5 years at 6-6.5. He's arbitration eligible so that doesn't help anything.

Toffoli got 4.6x3 at about the same point in his tenure with the Kings.

Realistically, what are Kempe's comps that would get him 6+ with some term in arbitration?
RNH? (5.125 X 8) Puts up similar numbers throughout his career to what Kempe is doing this season.
Look at what Garland got from VAN - basically 5x5. And I get he isn't having the season that Kempe is, but they are in the same tier.

I haven't seen a comp that gets Kempe up to 6+ yet.
 
I fear (but I live in the negative) that signing Kempe to a big deal will turn him into a Gaborik type player.

Got paid...time to coast.

He's been unreal - and he's only 25. Give him 5 or 6 years & keep Dewy around just to kick his ass when needed.
 
I think Danault is a good comparison in regards to overall value provided to the team. Therein, I'd give him 5.5AAV over 6 years.
 
I still think he's good trade bait. Contract year, explosion in production, too much risk of turning back into a pumpkin for me. Let someone else risk $6 million for 5+ years.

It would take a GM with balls to deal him now, though. The backlash on these forums alone will be immense.
 
The backlash on these forums alone will be immense.

For good reason... and it would happen on every forum. Unless the return is a franchise left shot defenseman, no team would package their leading goal-scorer and most dynamic player at age 25.

The bias against and stereotyping of European players still persists...
 
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