Top 10 Goals Of Adrian Kempe's 2021-22 Season

Less than a month ago, on July 10th, the Kings announced the re-signing of 25-year-old restricted free agent Adrian Kempe. With pen put to paper and the dotted line signed, Kempe and the Kings agreed on a four-year, $22 million ($5.5M AAV) contract extension that will run through the 2026-27 season.
Coming off of a breakout year offensively, Kempe set a career high in goals with 35 and became just the third King to reach the 35-goal threshold since 2004. Kempe also set a career high in points (54), upping his previous high in points by 17 from the 2017-18 season. Come the end of the season, Kempe led the Kings in goals and finished second on the team in points. The Swedish winger also led the Kings in scoring in the playoffs with six points (2-4=6) in seven games. In six NHL seasons, the Kings' 2014 first-round draft pick has notched 186 points (90-96=186) in 390 games.

Looking to next year, Kempe will be leaned on to continue the offensive production that Kings fans witnessed last season. As to what we saw last season, let's run it back with the Top 10 Goals of Adrian Kempe's 2021-22 season and refresh the memories to those who are excited to see Kempe in a Kings jersey for the next four years!

10. Kempe breaks the skid

October 28, 2021 vs. Winnipeg Jets

To begin the 2021-22 campaign, Kempe's season did not get out to a quick start offensively. Going into the seventh game of the season, Kempe had notched just one assist, that being on opening night when the Kings manhandled the Vegas Golden Knights 6-2. On October 28th, Kempe broke through in the goal column, as he picked up a loose puck in the high slot and fired it past the Jets goalie on the blocker-side. Often times it just takes one to see the puck go in the net to get going. It was just the start to 34 more goals in his next 71 games.

9. Kempe uses his creativity and speed to capitalize on rare type of goal

December 28, 2021 vs. Vegas Golden Knights

The second fastest player in the All-Star Game Skills Competition validated that result on this night versus the division rival. Following a Golden Knights goal, Drew Doughty immediately sprung Kempe on a length of the ice pass that ricocheted off of corner boards and into the slot. Kempe used his speed to split the defenseman and one-timed home for the first goal of the game for the hosts.

8. Tic-Tac-Toe to Kempe, Kings win

February 18, 2022 @ Vegas Golden Knights

Having already scored earlier in the game, Kempe played the role of the beneficiary on this beautiful sequence. Notching his second goal of the game, Kempe tapped in the overtime, game-winning goal with a backdoor tape-to-tape pass from Sean Durzi. Furthering the importance of this mid-February win, the Kings trailed the Golden Knights by four points in the standings at this time. Kempe's game-winning goal proved to be pivotal as the Kings would leapfrog the Golden Knights in the weeks to come following this win.

7. Speed (and skill) kills

November 20, 2021 vs. Carolina Hurricanes

In an eventful and high-scoring affair, Kempe contributed for the Kings with one of his three shorthanded goals on the season. After intercepting a cross-ice pass in the defensive zone, Kempe split the Hurricanes' defensemen with his speed and finished on the breakaway under heavy pressure.

6. Kempe counters quickly

February 19, 2022 @ Arizona Coyotes

One of the many reasons that the Kings had a successful and winning season was because of their ability to respond quickly after the opponent scores. In this highlight, Kempe did just that, scoring 12 seconds after an opening Coyotes goal.

5. Kempe converts on cross-ice one-timer

April 4, 2022 vs. Calgary Flames

One weapon that Kempe consistently used out of his offensive arsenal this past season was the wicked one-timer. Via snap shot or slap shot, Kempe produced goals in both forms. The snap shot one-timer was used on this occasion as Kempe beat Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom under the pad.

4. Shooters shoot, Kempe shoots and scores

February 18, 2022 @ Vegas Golden Knights

In what was perhaps his best wrist shot of the year, Kempe took advantage of a double screen by Viktor Arvidsson and Drew Doughty in front of the net and ripped home a beautiful power-play goal, off the post and in, versus the Golden Knights.

3. Kempe hammers home PPG

February 25, 2022 @ Anaheim Ducks

Cashing in on one of his seven power-play goals, Anze Kopitar and Kempe teamed up on an out of place Ducks defense to score the eventual game-winning goal at Honda Center. After a Kopitar-caused turnover, the Kings captain found Kempe open in the high slot. Ready for the pass, Kempe unloaded a one-timer labeled for the top shelf on the glove side and in.

2. Kempe calls game

November 9, 2021 @ Montreal Canadians

As you'll see with Kempe's top goal of the year, the Swedish winger has found a move that is hard to defend and very effective, especially in open space. Given the winger's skill and speed, Kempe has found success driving wide on defenders on his off-wing side and cutting back to his forehand as he gets to the net. On this day, Kempe saved the move for this game's most intense moments and won the Kings the game in overtime, beating Canadiens goalie Jake Allen.

1. Kempe wins Game 5 in Edmonton with beautiful overtime winner

May 10, 2022 @ Edmonton Oilers

With a lethal move that Kings fans have seen Kempe make before, the team's leading goal scorer in the regular season notched the biggest goal of his career in the first overtime period of Game 5. Tied at two games apiece, the Kings found themselves in overtime after leading the game by two goals in the third period twice. After a strong shift by the Kings' second line to open overtime, an energized Kempe picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, beat the Edmonton defenseman wide to the net and went backhand-to-forehand to put the puck past a sprawling Mike Smith. The goal would send the Kings back to Los Angeles with a 3-2 series lead in the First Round of the 2022 Playoffs.