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Trending Upward: LA Kings Bound to Rebound in 2018-2019

By Vincent D'Angelo

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 11: Jeff Carter #77 and Tyler Toffoli #73 of the Los Angeles Kings laugh during warm up before the game against the Calgary Flames at Staples Center on October 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 11: Jeff Carter #77 and Tyler Toffoli #73 of the Los Angeles Kings laugh during warm up before the game against the Calgary Flames at Staples Center on October 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 7: Adrian Kempe #9 and Oscar Fantenberg #7 of the Los Angeles Kings converse before a game against the Dallas Stars at STAPLES Center on April 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 7: Adrian Kempe #9 and Oscar Fantenberg #7 of the Los Angeles Kings converse before a game against the Dallas Stars at STAPLES Center on April 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Adrian Kempe – Kempe had the same struggles as Toffoli this season with a lackluster 2nd half of the season and a hard to swallow 0 goals after February 7th. Fatigue is a definite factor.

Kempe, 21, had big skates to fill October 18th when an errant skate took Jeff Carter out for most of the 2017-18 season. That same night he scored his first NHL hat-trick. Kempe showed promise through the rest of the first half managing 14 goals by the start of February.

He seemed primed to eclipse 20 goals in his first full season for the LA Kings but he’d only pot 2 more in before the fatigue of 2nd line minutes on a young centerman would become too much to handle.

This could be a contributing factor to Toffoli’s poor second half but I wouldn’t put it all on Kempe. Toffoli is a veteran now at 25 years and 5 years experience in the NHL. Kempe prior to this season played only 25 NHL games and spent most of that in the bottom 6 against slower players.

Kempe showed his speed and promise for the future. He is the LA Kings Jeff Carter when Jeff moves on or begins to deteriorate. Kempe like Toffoli has a wicked shot and can score from almost anywhere on the ice.

He will break 20 goals this year on the third line most likely sharing the dot with fellow first-round pick Gabriel Vilardi. Kempe’s ceiling though is still very high as well!

He could be a possible 35-40 goal scorer in the future, maybe 2 or 3 years from now. This would also depend on whether he plays center or wing. Both he and Vilardi have experience on both positions so look for the LA Kings to utilize them both for the year and going forward with the player they think better fits the center role.

They each have their upsides. Kempe has the speed to push defenders back and a shot that would frighten any goaltender tasked with stopping it. However, Vilardi possesses a playmaking ability and hockey smarts we expect from a centerman it’s the bar Kopitar has set.

It’ll be an interesting season for Kempe again 20 goals 40-45 points, you heard (read?) it here first!

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