Details of Michal Kempny’s multi-year agreement with the Washington Capitals were revealed Friday morning. The Capitals announced that the 27-year old defenseman has signed a four-year deal with an average annual value of $2.5 million.
OFFICIAL! Kemps is ALL OURS!
Washington Capitals have re-signed defenseman Michal Kempny to a four-year contract. Average annual value of $2.5 million. #ALLCAPS
More Details: https://t.co/oSr1LY0Wpo pic.twitter.com/c25FV8sLeh
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 29, 2018
The Capitals entered the off-season with roughly $21.2 million of salary cap space after they traded Brooks Orpik’s $5.5 million cap hit to the Colorado Avalanche. Since, they have re-signed top defenseman John Carlson and forward Devante Smith-Pelly in addition to Kempny.
| Signing | Value |
| John Carlson | $8,000,000 |
| Michal Kempny | $2,500,000 |
| Devante Smith-Pelly | $1,000,000 |
| TOTAL | $11,500,000 |
The Capitals now have roughly $9.715 million of cap space remaining. At the top of their list to sign now is top-line forward Tom Wilson. Washington has 18 of their 23 roster spots filled, and have more than enough space to lock in Wilson and fill the remaining four spots afterwards.
Bringing back Kempny at a prime age, gives the Capitals a top defensive pair along with Carlson for years to come.
Kempny joined the Capitals in February via trade from the Chicago Blackhawks. In 22 regular season games with the Capitals, he had three points. But in the playoffs, his average time on iced increased to 17:42 and he had five points in 24 games, including one goal and two assists during the Stanley Cup Final in which the Capitals won over the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.
Kempny came to the NHL as an undrafted free agent after a decorated career overseas that included one year in Russia’s KHL. Now, he is part of a Capitals’ core that is looking to repeat next season as Stanley Cup champions.
