Thoughts on Adrian Kempe

[Herby]

Kempe will be an important piece as Blake moves the Kings towards a more speed and skill oriented lineup. He isn’t a “top six” player in the traditional sense but all the good teams have skill and speed on their third line. I think Kempe will be a big part of the Kings getting to that point.

 

[Fishhead]

Kempe is a 2nd/3rd tweener at worst. Right now, his numbers are that of a top-6. I think like Pearson, he's going to be a 40-50 point guy for the immediate future if he gets the ice time.

 

[Sol]

Kempe will be an important piece as Blake moves the Kings towards a more speed and skill oriented lineup. He isn’t a “top six” player in the traditional sense but all the good teams have skill and speed on their third line. I think Kempe will be a big part of the Kings getting to that point.

100% with proper ice time and deployment Kempe will only improve. He has the speed, strength, and hands. All important attributes.

 

[Ghetty Green]

amazing so far in wch. great skills, super fast and works really hard. not sure why you guys are trying to force him into a bottom 6 c, he is a legit top 6 talent. he can be as good as rakell and zibanejad.

You must be new here. All of our older players are washed up and all of our young guys are busts. Please stick to the narrative

 

[The Tikkanen]

Iafallo-Kempe-Lewis would be a tremendous 3rd line. Develop Kempe slowly, injuries or slumps you can move him up in the top 6. Kempe reminds me of Robert Lang, if the Kings mess with Kempe with dumb ice time or trade him now they will regret it. The kid has talent, if he sucks at face offs in the defensive zone then don't let him take face offs in the defensive zone. Maximize his talents rather than focusing on the one thing he doesn't do well and hold him back because of that.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Iafallo-Kempe-Lewis would be a tremendous 3rd line. Develop Kempe slowly, injuries or slumps you can move him up in the top 6. Kempe reminds me of Robert Lang, if the Kings mess with Kempe with dumb ice time or trade him now they will regret it. The kid has talent, if he sucks at face offs in the defensive zone then don't let him take face offs in the defensive zone. Maximize his talents rather than focusing on the one thing he doesn't do well and hold him back because of that.

You don't think Kempe would serve well on wing along side Carter OR Kopitar?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Iafallo-Kempe-Lewis would be a tremendous 3rd line. Develop Kempe slowly, injuries or slumps you can move him up in the top 6. Kempe reminds me of Robert Lang, if the Kings mess with Kempe with dumb ice time or trade him now they will regret it. The kid has talent, if he sucks at face offs in the defensive zone then don't let him take face offs in the defensive zone. Maximize his talents rather than focusing on the one thing he doesn't do well and hold him back because of that.

That's exactly what was happening earlier this season and you were complaining about it.

 

[The Tikkanen]

That's exactly what was happening earlier this season and you were complaining about it.

The Nick Shore era?

 

[The Tikkanen]

You don't think Kempe would serve well on wing along side Carter OR Kopitar?

I think the roster is going to look very different in October compared to now.

 

[Fishhead]

You don't think Kempe would serve well on wing along side Carter OR Kopitar?

Carter wouldn't get Kempe the puck, he'd shoot it himself, and rightfully so. Carter and Kempe on wing with a playmaker in the middle would be a different story.

Kopitar I'm not sure about. He thrives on the o-zone possession game while Kempe is more of an open ice kind of guy. I think his play is absolutely suited for someone like Iafallo, I remember them being really effective the few times they were paired. I think there was a preseason game where they were really good together (flanking Amadio maybe?)

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The Nick Shore era?

Please don't call it that

 

[Sol]

Kempe needs the puck. No one skates it like him.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

He's only 21. He just had a pretty remarkable rookie season, especially given the role of being #2 center for the first 50 games. His point totals were pretty close to Toffoli and Pearson those 50 games and they both got PP time and Kempe didn't. Kempe has the ability, shot and speed to be top 6 now and should be. He should also get PP time. He's produced on Team Sweden on the PP.

He should add another 10 lbs of muscle...looks like he can add 15, but just adding some muscle will give him more of a power game too. Consider when Brown, Kopitar, and even Doughty got bigger, their games actually went down somewhat. Have heard all of them lost a few pounds and were actually better...its about conditioning and not bulking too much...slows players down often just a fraction of a second and that makes a difference today.

 

[damacles1156]

Needs to avoid the sophomore slump like Forbort had.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Needs to avoid the sophomore slump like Forbort had.

Seemed like he went through it during the season after his hot start.

Thankfully he does look rejuvenated and is flying on the ice at the WC.

 

[LAKings88]

I’m hoping he has a true breakout season next year.

 

[mjlee]

You guys might want to check out the Russia-Sweden game tonight. Kempe will center Forsberg and Arvidsson on the second line.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Two primary assists for Kempe in today's game against Latvia. He also had an unfortunate giveaway as a result of a broken stick that led to a Latvia goal.


Thus far in 8 games, Kempe has compiled 1 goal and 6 assists. He still continues to suck at faceoffs though.