Significant Update on Kempe & Kings Talks

Things have been quiet for over a week on the Adrian Kempe extension front, as he and the Los Angeles Kings remained far apart in talks, and there was nothing new to report except speculation. Now, insider David Pagnotta has signaled a significant change, as he says that negotiations have resumed. 

They paused talks in October and they thought they were going to resume by the end of the month but they hadn’t. But I checked in a couple of days ago and it sounds like they’ve resumed those discussions. My understanding is that there’s still a lot of work to be done. They’re still grinding away but the conversation is back, and going back-and-forth. Perfect world, he gets something done here by the end of the calendar year. It’s just a matter of finding that middle ground and finding the right structure and so on.

The real sticking point of late has been the most recent big-money extension handed out, that to Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas. He hauled in an $11.5 million AAV on his new long-term deal, and clearly, the Kempe camp is using that as a comp, and is unlikely to settle for less. By most accounts, including insider Elliotte Friedman, the team had hoped not to have to go north of the $10 million mark. But with the realities of the new cap world, that’s out the window now. 

With so many of next year’s pending unrestricted free agents having re-signed with their incumbent teams in recent weeks, Kempe would be right near the top of available UFAs come July 1 if he is not signed to an extension before then. 

Kempe, now in his 10th season in LA, finds himself in his usual spot as the Kings’ leading scorer, with 17 points on six goals and 11 assists in 16 games. Last year, he registered 35 goals and 73 points in 81 games.

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