Adrian Kempe signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. It has an average annual value of $5.5 million.
The 25-year-old forward had an NHL career-high 35 goals and 54 points in 78 games for the Kings this season, second on the team behind center Anze Kopitar (67 points; 19 goals, 48 assists in 81 games).
Kempe, who could have become a restricted free agent July 13, led Los Angeles with six points (two goals, four assists) in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. The Kings were defeated in seven games by the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference First Round.
“One of the priorities for our organization is to get Adrian Kempe signed right away here,” Kings general manager Rob Blake said July 5. “Then we kind of know our situation, if we have to address a couple of needs in free agency.”
Selected by Los Angeles with the No. 29 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Kempe has 186 points (90 goals, 96 assists) in 390 regular-season games and six points in 11 playoff games.
The Kings (44-27-11) qualified for the playoffs this season, ending a three-year drought. They have not won a postseason series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014.
Los Angeles also previously acquired forward Kevin Fiala from the Minnesota Wild on June 29 and signed him to a seven-year, $55.125 million contract ($7.875 AAV) the next day. Fiala had a career-high 85 points (33 goals, 52 assists) in 82 regular-season games, and three points (all assists) when Minnesota lost to the St. Louis Blues in six games in the Western Conference First Round.
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