If not for the standout performance of winger Adrian Kempe, the Los Angeles Kings might not have been a top-two team in the Pacific Division standings this past season in the 2024-25 campaign. Kempe led the Kings in goals (35), points (73), and 5-on-5 points scored (42).
This past season was the second campaign in a row that Kempe in total points. It was his second straight season with at least 70 points scored.
Kempe had another career year in many respects for the Kings this past season, registering a career-high in plus/minus rating (+22), point shares (9.0), and blocked shots (36).
He established himself among the elite wingers in the NHL with some of the statistics he's produced for the Kings in the past couple of years in the Pacific Division.
Adrian Kempe 2024-25 Los Angeles Kings player season recap
2024-25 season stats: 81 games played, 35 goals, 38 assists, 73 points, +22
2024-25 advanced stats: 14.8 shooting %, 11.7 5-on-5 shooting %, 2.8 points/60, 9.0 point shares, 2.8 WAR
2024-25 possession metrics (with Kings): 51.5 CF%, 50.4 SCF%, 103.7 PDO, 53.2 HDCF%
For the second straight season, Kempe ranked among the top 20 wingers in the NHL in even strength and total goals scored for the Kings. He didn't slow down in the postseason either, this past spring.
Kempe scored a team-high six goals, four assists, and a team-high 10 points in six playoff games for the Kings last postseason in the first round. He came out of the gates firing in the postseason for the Kings, scoring three goals and seven points in the first round's first two games for the Kings against the Edmonton Oilers.
Given his production and efforts for the Kings, Kempe represented his home country of Sweden in the inaugural 4 Nations Tournament.
Rink Royalty 2024-25 season grade for Adrian Kempe: A
Adrian Kempe 2025-26 Los Angeles Kings season preview
This upcoming season is the final year of Kempe's current contract with the Kings. Expect Kempe to receive a sizable pay raise with a potential contract extension in the works for the Kings' front office and Adrian in the next year or so.
Kempe is set to make $5.5 million in average annual value for the final year of his contract.
Since it sounds like Kempe wants to stay in LA with another contract extension, I'd expect him to get a deal done by next offseason with the Kings' front office.
Kempe should have another productive season as a first-line winger for the Kings in 2025-26 with the core part of the forward group. He will be a go-to option for head coach Jim Hiller and the Kings in many different situations this upcoming season with the top forward group, including in clutch time in the third periodand on the power play.