Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
There comes a time in a players’ life when he needs to get paid for his contributions. In his last contract, Los Angeles Kings star Adrian Kempe signed a 4-year deal worth $22 million, an average annual value (AAV) of $5.5 million. He has been the Kings best player since then and needs to get paid like the star he is. What would his next contract look like? below are some comparables of those around him over the past three seasons.
During the last three seasons, Kempe ranks 22nd in goals scored with 104, an average of 34 per season. Also during that time are three players who are just below him at #23, 24, and 25.Toronto Maple Leafs star John Tavares has 103, Ottawa Senatros forward Brady Tkachuk has 101, and Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho has 101.
Tavares’ current contract is a 4-year deal for $17.557 with an AAV of $4.39. Tkachuk is on a 7-year deal for $57.564 and an AAV of $8.21, and Aho has an 8-year deal with $78 million with an AAV of $9.75. This gives the Kings a good look at what Kempe’s contract may Look like as far as term and dollars go.
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All four teams above are playoff contenders. All four players have left their mark on their organization and all four are prominent figures in their city. They are all first or second-line players and have made considerable offensive contributions.
Tavares is the oldest of the group and maybe why he only has a four-year deal. Tkachuk and Aho are similar in offensive numbers but Tkachuk brings a gritty style of game. Kempe is certainly worth more than the Tavares contract in terms of dollars and term. Should he be paid more than the three players below him? yes. Kempe has been the sole goal-scoring machine the Kings have. Most of their offense runs through him, both on a regular shift and on the power play. He is the most consistent goal scorer the Kings have had in years and is last contract is a bridge deal that gets him to a bigger payday. With the salary cap going up each season, Kempe should be paid as the Kings’ best player.
If you want particulars, Kempe may be looking at a 6-year, $60 million deal that pays him $10 million per season. His presence on the ice for the Kings is unmatched and the Kings do not look like the same group without him in the lineup, which is not often. he has missed 10 games over the past four seasons, showing his durability and leadership. Kempe has been a star in Los Angeles but goes unnoticed by the league. Without him in the lineup scoring goals the Kings would be starved for offense. He is the Kings’ number one priority for contract renewals and he should get a hefty raise this time around.
Categorized:Kings