The post Kings Keep Their Guy: How L.A. Landed Adrian Kempe Under $11 Million appeared first on NHL Trade Talk.
The Los Angeles Kings got the deal they absolutely had to get done — and they did it on their terms. Adrian Kempe, the team’s leading scorer for two straight seasons and the heartbeat of their forward group, signed an eight-year extension on Sunday at a tidy $10.625 million AAV. That’s a big number, but the reality is: most people around the league expected this to creep north of $11 million. Some were downright convinced it would.
The Kings held the line. Kempe didn’t want to leave. And now he’ll be a King until 2034.
Pierre LeBrun broke down the deal, which is as follows:
Kempe contract:
For months, these two sides were apart. Not hostile, not contentious — just far enough away that the possibility of an $11-plus deal was very real. L.A. isn’t exactly cash-strapped either. They could’ve gone there if they had to. They didn’t.
Why? Two reasons.
First, structure. L.A. built a deal that worked for Kempe without blowing up their internal salary hierarchy. Second, Kempe wanted to be in Los Angeles. He believes he can win there, and people close to the negotiation say he was willing to shave off a bit to make the fit work long-term. Kempe chose what he knew and what was comfortable, even if the market might have offered more.
Adrian Kempe Kings contract
The timing surprised some folks. The Kings were in Toronto last week, meeting face-to-face with agent J.P. Barry. Even then, the thought was that talks were progressing, but not necessarily at the finish line. Then came the push — a real effort to close before momentum slipped away. And momentum is exactly what the Kings have right now. They’ve found their stride, they’re stacking wins on a tough road trip, and locking in their top scorer only adds to that surge.
With Anze Kopitar nearing the end and the market shrinking fast, Los Angeles simply couldn’t risk dragging this into the offseason. They’ve secured a long-term pillar at a number that keeps their window wide open.
Kempe gets paid. The Kings keep their franchise winger, and they do so for under $11 million per season, staying a good $900K below Martin Necas‘ deal with the Colorado Avalanche.
Next: Oilers’ Latest OT Win Still Feels Like a Wake-Up Call
The post Kings Keep Their Guy: How L.A. Landed Adrian Kempe Under $11 Million appeared first on NHL Trade Talk.
Continue reading...
The Los Angeles Kings got the deal they absolutely had to get done — and they did it on their terms. Adrian Kempe, the team’s leading scorer for two straight seasons and the heartbeat of their forward group, signed an eight-year extension on Sunday at a tidy $10.625 million AAV. That’s a big number, but the reality is: most people around the league expected this to creep north of $11 million. Some were downright convinced it would.
The Kings held the line. Kempe didn’t want to leave. And now he’ll be a King until 2034.
Pierre LeBrun broke down the deal, which is as follows:
Kempe contract:
- 26-27: $1M salary, $11M signing bonus
- .27-28: $1M salary, $11M SB
- 28-29: $1M salary, $11 SB
- 29-30: $2.5M salary, $9.5M SB
- 30-31: $9.75M salary
- 31-32: $9.75M salary
- 32-33: $8.75M salary
- 33-34: $8.75M salary
- SB total: $42.5M Salary total: $42.5M AAV: $10.625M
Kings Secure Adrian Kempe Extension Under $11 Million
For months, these two sides were apart. Not hostile, not contentious — just far enough away that the possibility of an $11-plus deal was very real. L.A. isn’t exactly cash-strapped either. They could’ve gone there if they had to. They didn’t.
Why? Two reasons.
First, structure. L.A. built a deal that worked for Kempe without blowing up their internal salary hierarchy. Second, Kempe wanted to be in Los Angeles. He believes he can win there, and people close to the negotiation say he was willing to shave off a bit to make the fit work long-term. Kempe chose what he knew and what was comfortable, even if the market might have offered more.
Adrian Kempe Kings contract
How The Deal Came Together
The timing surprised some folks. The Kings were in Toronto last week, meeting face-to-face with agent J.P. Barry. Even then, the thought was that talks were progressing, but not necessarily at the finish line. Then came the push — a real effort to close before momentum slipped away. And momentum is exactly what the Kings have right now. They’ve found their stride, they’re stacking wins on a tough road trip, and locking in their top scorer only adds to that surge.
With Anze Kopitar nearing the end and the market shrinking fast, Los Angeles simply couldn’t risk dragging this into the offseason. They’ve secured a long-term pillar at a number that keeps their window wide open.
Kempe gets paid. The Kings keep their franchise winger, and they do so for under $11 million per season, staying a good $900K below Martin Necas‘ deal with the Colorado Avalanche.
Next: Oilers’ Latest OT Win Still Feels Like a Wake-Up Call
The post Kings Keep Their Guy: How L.A. Landed Adrian Kempe Under $11 Million appeared first on NHL Trade Talk.
Continue reading...