Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe has been simply incredible this season. While, at 25 years old, he is a little late to be experiencing a breakout season, there are many factors that can explain this, and a large portion of his recent offensive prowess is due to the Kings’ patience with him. Here is a breakdown of his career so far and what had led to his success this season.
Kempe Drafted in 2014
Coming off of their triumphant 2014 Stanley Cup victory, the Kings selected Adrian Kempe in the first round with the 29th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. It was an interesting time for the team as, in order to be competitive in the playoffs, they had traded away many of their top draft picks for proven players. This selection was the team’s only first-round pick from 2013 through 2016, but Kempe quickly became one of the team’s only top prospects.
Going into the draft, Kempe was still a bonafide center. Scouts described him as a speedy player and noted his defensive…
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