Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny returned to DC on Tuesday, and made his first appearance at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday. The big question regarding Kempny is his health and readiness for the coming season.
In an interview with Tom Gulitti of the NHL, Capitals’ General Manager Brian MacLellan commented on the current status of Kempny. “Everything is positive for him to start camp,” MacLellan said. “I’ll find out from (athletic trainer Jason Serbus) today … but everything so far has been positive that he’s good to go.” MacLellan added, “He’s got to get through camp, too,” MacLellan said. “I think that’s the biggest challenge for him, get through camp and be 100 percent healthy through that.”
Kempny was injured in a tussle with Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette on March 20. The Capitals announced April 2 that Kempny’s recovery was expected to take 4-6 months after he had surgery to repair his hamstring, which tore off the bone in his leg.
“I just felt (a) pop in my leg and I felt really big pain,” Kempy said April 26 after the Capitals were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Kempny has been working hard with his rehab this summer. He was seen running stairs in mid-July in a video posted by his trainer on July 23rd.
#ALLCAPS Michal Kempny gettin’ after it. pic.twitter.com/hW3FkU4O48
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) July 23, 2019
Kempny commented on his rehab and recovery status in a recent interview with iSport.cz on August 1st. “The forecasts from the beginning were that it would take four to six months. I can’t say exactly how it will be. For me and Washington it is essential that I do not rush anything and be healthy all season. If I need time, I get it. This is very important to me. My injury was not the lightest. I want to be 100 percent. I’m sure I won’t play sooner. I did a lot of work and a lot more is ahead of me. I want to prepare as best I can. This is my style. There may still be a deficit on that leg. It took her to get stronger again. But it’s almost the same as the healthy one. When I dropped the crutches, it was like learning to walk again. ”
In the same interview, Kempny commented on potentially being ready for the start of camp. “It is real. If it works out, I’ll be very happy. But I am not sure, since camp starts on September 13th and I have to be perfectly prepared. I have to follow my feelings, the doctors and the people who care for me. No one wants me to play four games and then be out again. ”
By Jon Sorensen