Kempe signs 8-year, $85 million contract with Kings

Adrian Kempe signed an eight-year, $85 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. It has an average annual value of $10.625 million.

The 29-year-old forward, who is in the last of a four-year, $22 million contract ($5.5 million AAV) he signed with the Kings on July 10, 2022, could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

“We are thrilled to have Adrian signed for the next eight seasons,” Los Angeles general manager Ken Holland said. “He is an elite competitor who’s developed into one of the League’s most dynamic two-way forwards, and his growth since joining the Kings organization has been tremendous. Adrian’s presence both as a player and a leader is incredibly valuable to the team.

“Throughout this process, both sides were committed to finding a structure that reflects Adrian’s importance to us while keeping our long-term goals of building a team capable of contending every season in mind. We’re excited to have Adrian remain a core part of our organization for years to come.”

Kempe has 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 19 games this season. He scored an NHL career-high 41 goals in 2022-23 and had a career-high 75 points (28 goals, 47 assists) in 2023-24 before getting 73 points (35 goals, 38 assists) in 81 games last season.

Kempe has been named to Sweden’s preliminary roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 after playing for his country at the 4 Nations Face-Off last season.

Selected by Los Angeles in the first round (No. 29) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Kempe has 420 points (200 goals, 220 assists) in 649 NHL games, all with the Kings since 2016-17.

He has 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 28 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including 10 points (four goals, six assists) in six games last season when Los Angeles lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference First Round.