Adrian Kempe
- Thread starter Eye of Ra
- Start date
kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
- Jan 1, 2009
- 18,394
- 20,976
He's blossomed into a top six winger without a doubt. He may not always be carrying the play, but he has been very confident with the puck this year and is asserting himself almost every game. He's probably our best winger. If he falls out of the top six, it's because all of our prospects exceeded expectations.
Sol
Smile
- Jun 30, 2017
- 22,989
- 18,551
Not only is he handsome, but he's a good player. The Kings don't have any lookers anymore. We can't let him go.
All The Kings Men
Registered User
- Apr 7, 2016
- 1,931
- 4,731
For my money he's the perfect "middle six" player. Good enough to play in your top 6 but probably on a full powered contending team he'd be one of the best 3rd line guys in the league.
Lt Dan
F*** your ice cream!
He was a disappointment before late last year. He is now such a fixture that I changed my name to Adrian , I made my girl change her name to Adrienne and we call our ferret Kempe
Raccoon Jesus
Todd McLellan is an inside agent
Bandit
Registered User
He was in "bag of pucks" territory for me last year, but he's really turned it around and is playing an effective game most nights. I've been impressed.
johnjm22
Pseudo Intellectual
- Aug 2, 2005
- 19,513
- 14,704
There were so many games in recent years where it looked like he was working his ass off, but the results weren't there. And on top of that the team was losing and completely aimless.
Now he's starting to get production and there's finally some hope on the horizon for this team.
Kempe can pretty much be used anywhere in the lineup on either wing. He's really solidified himself as a quality NHL player, who still has more upside.
Now he's starting to get production and there's finally some hope on the horizon for this team.
Kempe can pretty much be used anywhere in the lineup on either wing. He's really solidified himself as a quality NHL player, who still has more upside.
Raccoon Jesus
Todd McLellan is an inside agent
It really did seem like his inconsistencies before were as if he was playing without purpose.
This season, he's been determined and forceful in putting his print on the game. It's not just the confidence, he's intentional, and seems to be in the right spots much more often now.
This is where I hoped we'd find him at this stage, producing at about a 50 point pace, and being useful all over the ice. Just needs to keep producing.
apocalypse
Dean Lombardi's Yes Man
He's a top six winger. Playing on vilardis wing he hasn't been able to really get going but that might be due to inexperience on vilardis part. On Kopitars wing, he's been a monster. So you pair him with a vet or someone with experience and kempe will do great.
Lt Dan
F*** your ice cream!
Because of Kempe, I yell this after every successful bowel movement
He's a tweener with a variety of skills but hasn't really had or bought into a defined role yet. Good wheels, good size, some snarl with a pretty good release. Hopefully he is kept on the wing from here on out.
Ideally, he is a terrific 3rd line winger with upward mobility in a pinch.
Ideally, he is a terrific 3rd line winger with upward mobility in a pinch.
Steve Zissou
I'll order you a red cap and a Speedo.
It's the GIF that keeps on giving that is the real winner here.
KingLB
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2008
- 9,035
- 1,160
Pretty much, his addition to the first line PP has definitely helped mask his continued 5on5 struggles. Atleast at the level you would expect out of a top6 winger.
4 5on5 pts in 17 games with a -4. Which is basically what Austin Wagner also happens to be putting up. (And AA and Grundstrum, all in less games)
Remember when Carter was out and Kempe was our #2 Center and looked really good? I do. It gave me hope for when Carter came back. Since then Kempe took a step back but seems to be flying now.
So fast, they use him on the PP to bring the puck up and I love it.
Raccoon Jesus
Todd McLellan is an inside agent
Only on insanely deep offensive teams like the Avs.
On many other contenders, Kempe is firmly a 2nd liner in talent and production moved around the middle six for chemistry reasons alone.
I know that sounds like splitting hairs but again here's the weight of unrealistic expectations of what top sixers "look" like on contenders, and the rhetoric makes it sound like we need to jettison guys like Kempe in order to contend.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
- 32,342
- 11,159
Kempe can fill in on the 2nd line when necessary. I look at the 2012 - 2014 teams, and he fits more as a 3rd liner with some scoring punch and energy.
I wouldn't jettison Kempe. He is a good forward, and on a contending team in the top 9. That isn't chopped liver.
Raccoon Jesus
Todd McLellan is an inside agent
Fair.
I just see people starting to parse ES/PP production and it's kind of like...yeah, 40-50 point players are, by definition, streaky, otherwise they'd be 70 point players, right? The league's top sixes are full of guys like Kempe and contenders very much have players like him on the 2nd/3rd lines as chemistry allows.
With Kempe, I think we're starting to see him put it all together in a way he hasn't before so even if he's 'just' a 40 point player by season's end at least his versatility and drive has grown, I see a much more defined player than in seasons past (though I think others have fairly questioned his identity a bit, I slightly disagree).
lumbergh
It was an idea. I didn't say it was a good idea.
The 5vs5 production is a concern, but it's mitigated by his PP production. There's no doubt that this current Kings team is flying high on special teams. Kempe his making his living off of his contributions there. Top 6, bottom 6? Better to call him a special teams specialist.
Raccoon Jesus
Todd McLellan is an inside agent
I think after years of complaining about offensive talent and a lack of PP production it's a little bit rough to be coming after guys for their good PP production especially when it's not wholly disproportionate with league averages.
FrozenKing18
Goongala! Goongala!
