Next up on our Washington Capitals report card series is Michal Kempny who likely played his last season with the team with him being set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He was an important trade deadline acquisition in 2018 and helped the Caps win the Cup that year. A hamstring injury one year later, and he hasn’t been the same since.
This year Kempny struggled in the preseason and didn’t even make the opening night roster. He played just 15 games with the Caps with one goal and one assist for two points. Other than that he spent much of the season with the Hershey Bears.
Kempny had a plus minus of minus three, 16 penalty minutes, 19 blocks and 22 hits while averaging 15:50 minutes of ice time. With the Bears he had seven assists in 24 games.
Kempny’s advanced stats weren’t too good either. He had a Corsi For percentage of 45.48 percent, a 47.05 percent Expected Goals For percentage, and a 50 percent High Danger Chances For percentage, via Natural Stat Trick. He was a healthy scratch throughout the playoffs.
Kempny will represent Czechia in the 2022 IIHF World Championships. He previously represented Czechia at the 2016 and 2017 IHF World Championship tournaments recording a combined five points with two goals and three assists in 16 games. he also played in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, appearing in three games.
Kempny missed the entire 2020-21 season due to injury. The previous season he recorded 18 points with three goals and 15 assists and a team high plus 19 plus minus rating in 28 games. In 248 career NHL games with the Caps and Chicago Blackhawks, Kempny has recorded 63 points with 15 goals and 48 assists.
Grade D: I hate to give Kempny a low grade as he’s one of the players who’s had the most misfortune when it comes to injuries. A bad preseason caused him to spend most of the year in the AHL. Perhaps a change of scenery this summer could help.