Adrian Kempe
A Swedish speedster whose explosive skating and scoring touch transformed him into a cornerstone of the Los Angeles Kings' offense.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Swedish ice hockey player·Birthday: September 13·Millennials
Biography
Adrian Kempe’s path to the NHL was written on the ice almost from the start. Growing up in Kramfors, Sweden, he honed his game in the Swedish junior system, his raw speed and offensive instincts setting him apart. Drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, he carried the weight of expectation across the Atlantic. His early years were a study in adaptation, as he shuffled between the wing and center, searching for his definitive role. The breakthrough came when the Kings fully unleashed his velocity on the wing. Kempe evolved from a promising prospect into an essential offensive engine, using his blistering pace to create breakaways and punish defenses. His consistency and growing leadership were formally recognized when he was named an alternate captain, a testament to his integral place in the team's core. He became the first King in over a decade to score 35 goals in a season, signaling a new era for the franchise built around his dynamic talents.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Adrian was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Adrian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Adrian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Los Angeles Kings player to score 35 goals in a season since 2010, achieving the feat in the 2022-23 campaign.
- Represented Sweden at multiple IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal in 2018.
- Recorded a hat-trick in a Stanley Cup Playoff game against the Edmonton Oilers in 2022.
- Was selected 29th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Did You Know?
His older brother, Mario Kempe, also played in the NHL, and they were teammates briefly on the Kings.
He played for MODO Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League before coming to North America.
His father, Michael Kempe, was also a professional hockey player in Sweden.
He is known for his exceptionally powerful and accurate wrist shot.
“I just try to use my speed and get to the net.”
