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2014 NHL Draft Prospect Profile #25 – Adrian Kempe

Adrian Kempe

Position: C/LW
Current Team: MODO (SHL)
Date of Birth: September 13, 1996
Place of Birth: Kramfors, Sweden
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190 lbs
Shoots: Left

One of the youngest players in this draft is Swedish forward Adrian Kempe. He’s a big bodied forward who got the chance to play most of his year at the top level of the Swedish leagues, playing for MODO in the SHL. His numbers won’t wow you, necessarily, but remember that he’s very young, and that when he plays with players his own age he is very, very good. Kempe finished the year as the sixth-ranked European skater in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

Kempe’s strengths right now are his size, his willingness to forecheck and get dirty, and his willingness to go all-out each and every shift. He’s strong, and is a relentless worker. He may not (yet) have the top-end offensive skill to be a top-six guy in the NHL, but his body and willingness to to forecheck and go to the net should land him a spot on the third line in time.

Kempe is a strong, bullish forward that has size, strength and a work ethic to match. He can be tenacious on the forecheck and never misses finishing a check. He has a heavy shot and isn’t shy to drive towards the net. – Elite Prospects

Kempe’s game drew rave reviews in the SuperElit where he served as an alternate captain of MoDo’s J20 team, so much so that he’s now seen action with the organization’s SHL entry. Kempe is an intriguing forward who has good size and an all-around skill-set that projects well moving forward. The Kramfors native plays with intensity and rarely takes shifts off which will go a long way for teams looking for a player that they can afford to be patient with in the second part of the first round. – The Scouting Report

Kempe has an excellent frame that moves extremely well chasing down loose pucks with an aggressive pursuit often initiating contact and engaging in puck battles with great success. His north-south style of game combines well with his strong skating stride as this power forward puts defenders on their heels with his unrelenting attack. Kempe drives the net hard and shows good puck handling ability, especially in the dirty areas of the rink. – Brendan Ross – Dobber Prospects

A Good Fit in Columbus?

Well, in many respects, he sounds like the prototypical Jackets player: big, hits hard, forechecks, and works hard all the time. That said, we already have a bunch of guys like that. We need guys like that with a bit more finish. That said, Kempe is young, and can improve offensively as he matures. He’s a guy that I’d love in the second round if he’s still there.

Kempe in Action