The Adrian Kempe Breakout Season Is Coming
I have no idea where the ESPN fantasy hockey rankers are going to rank Adrian Kempe, but I want in. The Kings were a playoff team this past season and only appear improved heading into the 2022-23 season. Adding Kevin Fiala certainly helps those matters. If anyone is going to serve as the Kings’ X-Factor in order to go from good to real contender, it needs to be Kempe.
I love Kempe heading into this year. I have no idea what he will be ranked by that idiot Sean Allen on ESPN (I own him btw) but Kempe is very much on my watch list. The Kings were a feel good story last year but realistically overachieved. It’s a young roster that only got way better heading into the 2022-23 campaign.
Kempe’s skillset is just so intriguing. That guy is just always angry. I don’t know how he does it but Kempe just has this awesome combination of speed and power. Controls the puck well through the zone. Oncoming traffic doesn’t bother him. He just kinda scoots through it.
The shot is kinda wicked too. Any sort of powerplay chance, the Kings want to feed him a chance on a wide open one timer. There aren’t any concerns about the finishing ability. Kempe finds the back of the net. He’s not a super big body but there is something about his on ice presence you can’t totally explain. It’s like a wet blanket hovering over you while he just rips shots.
Kempe, 25, obliterated his previous career highs this past year. The Kings left winger pocked 35 goals this past year. His prior career high mark was 16. Despite the high goal scoring totals, Kempe only notched 54 points. Want to make a bet that number goes up with the Fiala addition? In reality, Anze Kopitar is a great line mate but Kempe didn’t have a ton of help otherwise.
The breakout year is coming. Just put it in the books now. The lightbulb has clicked and now the Kings are putting together a roster that will allow him to flourish into one of the game’s best pure scorers. I want him in every fantasy hockey league this upcoming year.
