Just before the puck dropped on tonight’s game between the Kings and Rangers, Los Angeles shared that Adrian Kempe would be out due to a lower-body injury. Tonight marks the first time the forward has missed a contest all year.
In 66 games so far, the 29-year-old has put up 58 points. It’s performance right on track with his past few seasons after breaking out as a star. Kempe is averaging the highest ice time of his career, 19:16, and making the most of his first line role alongside center Anže Kopitar in the future Hall of Famer’s final season.
Sadly in the final chapter with Kopitar, the Kings will hope Kempe maintains his production for many more years afterward, as the Swede earned an eight-year extension back in November. Unless you count the recently acquired Artemi Panarin, Kempe leads Los Angeles in points; the duo will need to do some heavy lifting if they can manage to sneak into the playoffs. Kempe could return as soon as Thursday against the Flyers, but he’s had to miss a big one tonight in Panarin’s return to Madison Square Garden.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Ahead of their game tonight in Dallas, the Utah Mammoth announced that Kevin Stenlund won’t play, as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body ailment. The fourth line center has missed just his second game of 2025-26, otherwise posting 15 points in 66 games. It’s a step back from the 29-year-old’s strong first season in Utah where he set a career high with 28 points, but he’s a typical shutdown presence hardly counted on in that aspect. Stenlund has started just shy of 65% of his shifts in the defensive zone, and he brings value in face-off wins. The former Columbus second round pick could come back as soon as Thursday in Vegas.
- Tampa Bay forward Zemgus Girgensons returned to practice today, as noted by Benjamin Pierce, Beat Writer for the team. The veteran skated on Yanni Gourde‘s wing. Girgensons departed Saturday’s game against Carolina early with an apparent injury. The Latvia native plays a bottom six shutdown role, starting 60% of his shifts in the defensive zone yet still managing 15 points in 58 games. In today’s speed oriented game, it’s not always so kind for the 32-year-old 6’3″ lefty, but he still offers a solid 50.7% corsi for at five-on-five, bringing value to the team at a cap hit of just $850k.