Kempny has a big hill to climb to get back to regular ice time in 2021-22. He missed all of last season with a torn Achilles which was the second massive injury he's suffered since the Capitals' 2018 Cup win. In 2019, he tore his hamstring. Kempny needs to get up to game speed fast and that will be tough, both because of the rust from missed time and the new system he needs to learn. Remember -- he hasn't played for head coach Peter Laviolette or his assistant who runs the defenders. The Caps need Kempny to fill holes on their blue line, but you don't. There's no power-play time for him and he won't deliver hits or blocked shots. Let him play and enjoy his effort if you're a Washington fan. Or if you like great comeback stories.
Kempny underwent Achilles surgery in October. That procedure carries a recovery timeline of six-to-eight months, which puts his return in April in a best-case scenario. The 30-year-old blueliner was a solid middle-pairing option with 18 points, 72 blocked shots and a plus-19 rating in 58 contests last year. Zdeno Chara and Jonas Siegenthaler figure to cover for Kempny's absence for the bulk of the 2020-21 campaign, and fantasy managers in all formats can safely skip over him in their drafts. Even if he returns during the regular season, his value will be limited to deeper formats.
Kempny was an integral part of the Capitals' Stanley Cup run in 2018, but he managed to exceed expectations the following season. The Czech defender set career highs in goals (six), points (25), plus/minus (plus-24) and ice time (19:11) in 71 games during the 2018-19 season and cemented his place on Washington's top defensive pairing until a torn hamstring ended his season in mid March. Kempny is expected to be healthy for training camp, but he may struggle to get back into form.
Kempny had a rollercoaster season in 2017-18. Failing to garner consistent playing time with the Blackhawks, the rearguard ended up as one of the more impactful trade-deadline acquisitions in recent history, becoming a mainstay, top-four cog for the Capitals during their Stanley Cup run. Kempny was rewarded with a four-year, $10 million contract extension and he is expected to return alongside John Carlson for the near future. An offseason to get further acclimated to his new surroundings and consistent top-four minutes could set the stage for better offensive totals in 2017-18, but his fantasy value remains somewhat limited until he can find a higher gear.
Kempny was solid in his 2016-17 rookie campaign, notching eight points (two goals, six assists), 67 shots on goal and 76 hits in 50 games with the Blackhawks. The Slovakian blueliner should establish himself as a regular member of Chicago’s lineup this season; while he should improve upon his numbers from a season ago, there’s no reason to believe his expanded role will translate to fantasy appeal in 2017-18.
