The Los Angeles Kings have one of the best players set to enter unrestricted free agency next July in forward Adrian Kempe.
According to the latest reports, however, Kempe might not make it to the open market, as both sides have resumed contract negotiations after weeks without developments on that front.
Advertisement
Kempe, 29, is in the final season of his four-year, $22 million deal. His strong performance this season, with 17 points in 16 games, has positioned him atop the list of pending UFAs.
Earlier this month, both Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported that talks were stalled as Kempe was pushing for more than $10 million per season.
The Kings and Kempe were far apart on his valuation, with salary demands the major hurdle back then.
Advertisement
According to a new report by Pagnotta, the Kings and Kempe have now returned to the table in a promising development. Appearing on “The Morning Skate” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, per The Fourth Period, Pagnotta confirmed that the Kings have increased their salary offer from early-summer talks.
Pagnotta, however, warned that “nothing was close going into the weekend.”
Kempe could be seeking an eight-year deal in the $11 million to $12 million range. According to AFP Analytics, Kempe is projected to land a seven-year, $9.2 AAV deal next summer.
Advertisement
If Kempe ends up signing a deal into the $10 million-plus AAV range, that figure would mirror the recent extension signed by Carolina’s Martin Necas, which set a new benchmark for Kempe at $11.5 million AAV.
Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) looks up the ice.James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
The contract’s structure and term could also be a sticking point, though the Kings do have flexibility. The NHL’s projected $104 million cap ceiling would give Los Angeles over $33 million in space for next season, according to PuckPedia.
Since the 2021-22 season when he was named an All-Star, Kempe has 286 points in 334 regular-season games, almost evenly split with 145 goals and 141 assists. In 28 career postseason games, Kempe has 29 points.
Advertisement
The Kings have had a good start to the season, putting up a 7-5-4 record for 18 points through 16 games, and facing the Montreal Canadiens next on Tuesday, puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET.
Related: LA Kings Given Big Adrian Kempe Contract Update
Related: Oilers Targeting $11M-Demanding Star as Kings Stall on Extension
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.