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The Kempny You Keep

May 24, 2016, 8:30 AM ET [716 Comments]
John Jaeckel
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT



Or something like that.

At least I didn't try 'In Good Kempny' or worse still, 'Bad Kempny.'

The Blackhawks, after much dancing around, rumor and innuendo, got "their man" yesterday with the signing of Czech national team and Avangard OMSK (KHL) defenseman, Michal Kempny.

Here's maybe the most succinct summation I've read yet of Kempny's game, from Hawk GM Stan Bowman (stick tap to Scott Powers of the athletic.com):

“He’s a mobile defenseman. He’s got that mixture of offense and defense. I would call him a really well-rounded guy. He can defend well in his own end. Mobility, he’s a good skater. He can transition the puck. He can sort of play a well-rounded game, which I think as a defenseman, you’ve seen our team play a lot, you have to be able to defend for our coaches to be able to rely on you. He’s got that ability to sort of play both ways.”

Now, let's not get out over our skis just yet. There's a LOT we don't know about Kempny.

How will he adjust to playing on a smaller North American ice sheet, and to the added physicality of the NHL?

He's listed at 6' and anywhere from 190-200 pounds. Not huge. Not tiny. He's probably going to be a guy who relies more on positioning and using his stick than his body.

How willing is he to block shots? How tough is he in terms of taking an NHL style pounding game after game?

But let's assume for a minute, all the answers to those questions are at least, meh, satisfactory. If so, then it's possible the Blackhawks have filled one of a couple of gaping roster holes. They signed Kempny to an ELC worth somewhere in the high six figures, yet he's 25 years old and has a lot of pro experience (albeit in the KHL).

He's a left-side, mobile defenseman who has a game at both ends of the ice. This is the profile the Hawks have always wanted playing alongside Niklas Hjalmarsson (Bryan Campbell, Johnny Oduya). Assuming Kempny can ably slot in there, it not only improves the "second" pair, it allows Trevor van Riemsdyk to slot down to the third pair (and perhaps his better right side), improving that pairing as well.

Again, assuming Kempny is what the Hawks think he can be, then it's just a really nice move for a team that had a gaping hole on its blue line after Oduya bolted for Dallas.

And if you were wondering why there are rumors of Michal Rozsival's return, walker and all, there ya go: a language buddy.

Plus, Rozy thinks the game pretty well and could be a valuable teacher for Kempny as he makes his NHL adjustment. So slot Rozy in at #7, and maybe one of the Swedish Meatballs (Gustafsson, Svedberg, or less likely Forsling, Norell, Dahlstrom) in at #6, and Bob's Your Uncle, there's your somewhat improved, more cap friendly blue line for 2016-17.

While I have not heard this specifically, I would guess the Hawks' attention will now turn to the forward position, where the question of whether Andrew Shaw can be re-signed lurks, as well as who plays left wing with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa—some would argue, with the likely departure of Andrew Ladd, that player is not on the roster at present.

I'll have more as I hear it.


JJ
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