This past week, the Los Angeles Kings and the front office personnel got the deal done on the dotted line to sign star forward Adrian Kempe to a lengthy contract extension deal. Kempe's contract extension deal that he signed this fall this past week with the Kings management, worth $10.625 million in average annual value over the course of eight years (through the end of the 2033-34 season).
Which defensemen could receive contract extensions soon this season for the Los Angeles Kings?
Kempe's deal works out well for him and the Kings for him to stay in Los Angeles long term. He wanted to be in Los Angeles with the Kings' franchise for the foreseeable future with the organization.
The Kings have some very promising building blocks in place for the foreseeable and the short-term future for the franchise under new general manager Ken Holland. Forwards Kevin Fiala, Kempe, and center Quinton Byfield are all now locked up for at least the next few years for the top-nine forward lines core up front.
But the Kings and Holland have some key pieces on the roster for the future that have contracts expiring in the next couple of years that the organization and the front office will want to keep around for the franchise.
Here's a look at which player the Kings are most likely to hand a contract extension deal to next this season after signing Kempe to an eight-year contract extension earlier this fall.
Brandt Clarke, D
The biggest upcoming restricted free agent among young defensemen for the Kings this upcoming offseason in the 2026 summer will be 22-year-old blue liner Brandt Clarke. Any trade rumors or trade discussions concerning Clarke aren't grounded in much reality from the media's perspective this fall.
It should be a top priority for the Kings and Holland to get Clarke signed to a contract extension deal now that Kempe has signed his contract extension for eight years this fall. Clarke should be considered one of the real foundational pieces of the blue line heading into the future for the Kings' defensive core this season.
Clarke is roughly on pace to score a career-high in goals this regular season and he's also on pace to post a career-high in total points and assists on the stat sheet.
Drew Doughty, D
Veteran defenseman Drew Doughty is one of many Kings blue liners who are under contract signed through the end of the upcoming 2026-27 season for LA. Doughty is currently making around $11 million in average annual value for his current contract through the end of next season for LA.
In all likelihood, it looks that Doughty will be the next captain for the Kings going into the upcoming 2026 offseason next summer with the organization after captain Anze Kopitar retires at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Doughty seems like he wants to stay with the franchise in Los Angeles, with the Kings heading into the future. It wouldn't be surprising to see Doughty sign his final contract with the Kings in Los Angeles following the conclusion of the 2026-27 season in the West.