Capitals defenceman out long term with injury

The Washington Capitals announced today that defenceman Michal Kempny is out six to eight months following surgery to repair an Achillies tendon. Kempny injured his Achillies tendon while training recently in the Czech Republic.

Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny underwent a successful surgery to repair an Achilles tendon. Kempny sustained his injury while training in Czech Republic. Based on the nature of this injury, Kempny is expected to miss 6-8 months.— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) October 6, 2020

Kempny, 30, was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Blackhawks in May 2016. He was then traded on February 19th 2018 from Chicago to Washington in exchange for a third round pick in the 2018 NHL entry draft.

In 232 regular season games, Kempny has 61 points (14 G, 47 A), 130 penalty minutes and is a +58. In 30 career playoff games, he's put up 6 points (2 G, 4 A), 14 penalty minutes and is a -1. Kempny won the Stanley Cup during the 2017-18 season as a member of the Washington Capitals.

Internationally, Kempny has represented the Czech Republic on multiple occasions, most recently at the 2017 IIHF Men's World Hockey Championships. In 8 games he had 3 points (2 G, 1 A), 12 penalty minutes and was a +3 as the Czech Republic finished seventh. He also played at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey where he put up 0 points, 2 penalty minutes and was a -4 as the Czechs finished sixth.

This is a big blow for the Capitals, Kempny averaged 18:38 time on ice during the 2019-20 season. Washington will likely have to look within to fill that hole left by the absence of Michal Kempny.