Kings ink Kempe to 8-year deal reportedly worth $10.625M AAV

The Los Angeles Kings locked up one of their core pieces for the long haul, agreeing to an eight-year contract with winger Adrian Kempe, the team announced Monday.

Kempe's extension carries a $10.625-million average annual value, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.

He was playing out the final season of a four-year deal with a $5.5-million cap hit and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The 29-year-old Swede has six goals and a team-best 19 points across 19 games this campaign, primarily playing alongside captain Anze Kopitar on Los Angeles' top line. Kempe's 13 assists are also tied for the most among Kings players, and his three game-winning goals rank fourth in the NHL.

A first-round pick (29th overall) of the Kings in 2014, Kempe has spent his entire 10-year career in Hollywood while playing both left and right wing at various points. He's recorded 200 goals, 420 points, 84 power-play goals, and 383 penalty minutes across 649 regular-season contests.