According to Craig Custance of ESPN, the Chicago Blackhawks have reached an agreement with Czech defenceman Michal Kempny.
Kempny spent the 2015-16 season playing with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, scoring five goals and 21 points in 59 games.
The 25-year-old was an undrafted free agent who impressed the Blackhawks with his play in the world championships, where he wore an ‘A’ for the Czech Republic.
The move adds some much needed depth to Chicago’s blue line, which has relied heavily on veterans Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson in past seasons.
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman spoke to Scott Powers of The Athletic about Kempny at the world championships.
“He’s a mobile defenceman,” said Bowman. “He’s got that mixture of offence and defence. 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 defenceman, 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.”
