Recently Signed Contracts Have Bumped Kempe's Number Up Higher

Adrian Kempe is one of the next stars who is going to get a massive deal coming his way, whether that be before the season ends or in the offseason. The Los Angeles Kings' winger is in the final year of his deal and is a UFA in the summer.

The current cap hit for the 29-year-old in his prime is $5.5 million AAV, which is far too low for the production and impact he has on the team. Kempe is currently leading the Kings with five goals and 15 points in 13 games. He has scored 109 goals and 230 points in 253 games over the course of his current four-year deal.

Kempe is in line for a large raise as stars have been signing for $10 million AAV or more and for eight years before the eighth year gets taken away. Elliotte Friedman said, "I gotta think it's between $11 million and $11.5 million. That's what I think."

That would make perfect sense if the Kings want to keep their best player around and not sink further into mediocrity. Martin Necas just signed for $11.5 million AAV as a great comparison. Logan Cooley, albeit much younger, signed for $10 million AAV. Kyle Connor signed for $12 million AAV, while Jack Eichel signed for $13.5 million AAV. All of them aren't direct comparisons, Necas and Connor being the closest, but Kempe fits nicely in there as a star in the NHL.

Anze Kopitar is playing his last season, so the idea of losing both Kopitar and Kempe in one offseason would be devastating for the state of the team, especially since most of the talented prospect pool that the Kings used to be able to flash aren't prospects anymore. Kempe is likely not going to head to free agency, but the Kings also have more money to work with if Kopitar is off the books. It would be shocking if the Kings can sign Kempe for less than $11 million AAV.