Overview
- The 29-year-old leading scorer signed for eight years at $85 million, a deal carrying a $10.625 million average annual value.
- Kempe said he could have held out for more money but accepted a figure he viewed as fair to stay where his family is settled.
- GM Ken Holland called Kempe a player the Kings could not lose, noting Kopitar’s announced retirement at season’s end elevated the urgency to keep him.
- Los Angeles has surged lately, going 9-3-2 in its last 14 games and allowing a league-best 2.21 goals per game over the past month.
- Drew Doughty is on injured reserve with a lower-body issue and is expected to miss two to three weeks, and the team will recall Pheonix Copley to give Darcy Kuemper a rest for the back-to-back.