The Toronto Maple Leafs could capitalize on a Western Conference rival’s contract impasse with a top-six forward. With the salary cap ceiling going up next season, the Maple Leafs could add another scoring winger with a solid defensive upside.
The Western Conference rival in question is the LA Kings, and the winger is Adrian Kempe. The chatter around the league has been the apparent deadlock that the Kings and Kempe’s camp have run into. As such, the Kings could be forced to move on from the Swedish top-six forward.
According to insider David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Kings and Kempe are about $1 million apart at this point. Meanwhile, Kings GM Ken Holland denied that the two sides were at odds regarding a new contract.
But if the clock keeps ticking, and the Kings cannot re-sign Kempe, they may be willing to trade him, possibly at the deadline. So, here’s where a team like the Maple Leafs can swoop in.
Let’s look at what this trade could look like:
Maple Leafs get:
Adrian Kempe, F
Kings get:
2027 second-round pick
Nick Robertson, F
Bobby McMann, F
The Kings may ask for a boatload in exchange for Kempe. However, the club may not be able to sway potential trade partners to pay up big time. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, could offer the best return by sending two young, rising wingers in Robertson and McMann.
Los Angeles may also ask for a first-round pick, but given their situation, it’s unlikely that will be part of the return. In all likelihood, the Maple Leafs’ second-rounder from 2027 will be enough to move the needle.
Kempe Fills a Huge Gap in Maple Leafs’ Top Line
Adding Adrian Kempe instantly fills a massive hole in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top line. It’s almost a certainty that Kempe will get a shot with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Kempe’s defensive presence and playmaking skills make him a much better upgrade over someone like Matias Maccelli.
While Kempe wouldn’t be a replacement for Mitch Marner necessarily, the 28-year-old would provide the sort of balance the Maple Leafs had with Marner. That’s something the Leafs would need moving forward.
If Kempe doesn’t mesh with Matthews and Knies, there’s always the chance he could move down to the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. That line could instantly play a massive role in taking the pressure off Matthews’ unit.
Leafs Would Still Need to Re-Sign Kempe
It’s worth pointing out that Kempe is an impending UFA. That situation would entail re-signing him. Some estimates place Kempe in the $10 million AAV range. With the cap going up, the Leafs would spend most of their cap space on Kempe.
However, PuckPedia projects the Leafs to have about $25 million in cap space next summer. That’s not bad considering that the Leafs won’t have major UFAs to worry about during the 2026 offseason.
So, the Maple Leafs can go ahead and splurge on a new contract for Kempe. The move would be a no-brainer as the Leafs could easily afford it.
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