October 30, 2025 | 1:50pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

KEMPE EXTENSION “NOT IMMINENT” AS TALKS COOL

Adrian Kempe, forward

With new contract extensions appearing on a regular basis this month across the NHL, one team has taken a different approach and is taking time to iron out a new deal for one of its stars.

Contract discussions between the Los Angeles Kings and star winger Adrian Kempe were placed on pause earlier this month, by design, with the expectation that negotiations would resume and possibly ramp up closer to November. According to TFP’s David Pagnotta, that has not yet occurred.

During Wednesday’s episode of “DFO Rundown Insider Edition” with Pagnotta and Irfaan Gaffar, Pagnotta reported that an extension between the Kings and Kempe is “not close” and it is unclear when talks pick up steam.

“So, I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, that talks were put on hold and that they’re expected to resume later this month. They haven’t. Nothing substantial anyway,” Pagnotta said. “They are not close.

“Unless we wrap this show and (Kings GM) Kenny Holland and J.P. Barry, Kempe’s agent, pick up the phone and say 'to hell with it, let’s just do it,' this is not close. There is nothing imminent as of the moment we're filming this between the L.A. Kings and Adrian Kempe. And it’s, for me, a big head scratcher. Like there’s no question Kempe wants to be here. And there should be no question the Kings want him in L.A. long-term.”

Kempe has indicated on several occasions that he wants to continue his career in Los Angeles and the Kings certainly want him around long-term, but it appears this negotiation may take longer than many initially anticipated.

And with the Colorado Avalanche signing Martin Necas to an eight-year extension worth $11.5 million per season on Thursday, the sense of urgency may start to escalate from the Kings’ perspective.

“It’s going to be in the $11Ms. If you’re going full term, it’s going to be in the $11Ms,” Pagnotta projected.

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“I don’t get the sense this is, okay, we’ll do $11.001M versus $11.9999M. It’s not silly like that, but for me, I’ve got to imagine structure and bonuses are playing a factor. Because to get a deal at $11M and a quarter a year or $11.5M on a base salary only, that’s a lot simpler than having to finagle the bonus structure and when those payouts are going to be and how that’s going to affect other elements as part of the CBA and so on.”

Holland was a guest on “The Powerplay” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio on Wednesday late-afternoon and reiterated confidence that they will get something done with Kempe, but declined to discuss specifics of their negotiations.

“No one’s saying anything with respect to, it a structure thing, is it a bonus thing, is it this, is it that. The only sense that I’ve gotten from both sides is they’re not close, nothing’s imminent, as of today (Wednesday) and they’re not sure when talks are going to really escalate.

“That being said, it’s not all doom and gloom. They haven’t told each other off and they haven’t hung up the phone or looking at it like, I’m going to ignore this call. They’re not there. And at any moment they can have that phone call. So that’s a good sign, that at least those lines of communication, the windows still open on both sides.”

Kempe, 29, has picked up five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 11 games with the Kings to start the season.