By all accounts, Capitals’ defenseman Michal Kempny is extremely close to returning to the lineup for Washington. Unfortunately, that’s been the status since training camp. However, when dealing with a serious injury like this, a muscle being completely detached from a bone, caution rules.
Capitals head coach Todd Reirden stated before last night’s game that Kempny would not play in Monday night’s game, but hopeful he will be able to play in one of the other two remaining home games in the current three-game homestand.
Kempny (hamstring) will not play tonight vs Colorado. Reirden said he’s hopeful he will be able to play in one of the other two home games this week.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 14, 2019
Kempny looked ready to go at Tuesday morning’s practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The Capitals host the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night at Capital One Arena.
Kempny running drills at #ALLCAPS practice pic.twitter.com/Fg0PvcyaAH
— Jason Rogers (@HeyJayJRogers) October 15, 2019
Yet Kempny did not participate in formal line rushes this morning, indicating he is currently not projected to be in tomorrow’s lineup versus the Maple Leafs.
Big points here:
-Still no Kempny doing rushes
-Stephenson>Dowd 4C
-Panik to the fourth line and Hagelin makes the move to the second. Neither have done anything offensively this season.— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 15, 2019
Reirden confirmed after practice on Tuesday that Kempny would not play against the Maple Leafs.
Reirden says Kempny will not play tomorrow.
— JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) October 15, 2019
In an interview with NHL.com following the teams optional skate on Sunday, Kempny said he was ready to go.
Capitals D Michal Kempny (hamstring) said after optional practice today he feels ready to play in a game. Plans to talk to trainer, doctor, coaches today and make a plan for when he’ll come back.
If not tomorrow vs. Colorado, then “soon” after.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 13, 2019
Again, caution rules with this type of an injury. We will hopefully learn more from Reirden’s post practice presser. We will update as we learn more.
By Jon Sorensen
Reports I was seeing is return v Leafs… but lineup JJ Posted from practice within last hour or so.. had no Kempny.. WTF.. Hes ready to go.. they need him
It’s been wispy-washy for the last two weeks, exactly what his deal is. WaPo also reporting no Kempny tomorrow night.
Thanks for the update Jon S!
The Reirden, inc. staff has shuffled the deck a little bit after noticing that, um, his team STANK four of past five games.
Shuffling the deck chairs?
Is waiting for Kempny like waiting for Godot? Wish him a speedy recovery. Defense misses him. And, once again, it points out why Jake fought afterwards in that game where Kempny was hurt.
Godot?
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Kepney will return Tuesday versus Calgary. They will long term IR him (retroactively) for cap relief and then activate him after the 10th game.
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