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Michal Kempny UFA

Fred65

By Fred65
in Canucks Talk

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Fred65 Canucks First-Line

Fred65

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It appears JB is interested in Czech D, Michal Kempny. Unfortunately So to is Stan Bowman in Chicago

 

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2016/05/18/report-canucks-chasing-czech-defenceman-michal-kempny/

 

 

 

 

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Blackhawks target Michal Kempny exhibits rounded D-man game

by Scott Powers, Mon, May 16th

MOSCOW — My journey to see Czech Republic defenseman and Blackhawks free-agent target Michal Kempny was somewhat of an adventure Tuesday.

The day began at 5:30 a.m. with a four-hour train ride from St. Petersburg to Moscow. I had been managing getting around in Russia through taxis and public transportation despite little command of the language, at least until Tuesday. My Russian cabbie dropped me off at a corner in Moscow where he said my hotel was. I, of course, believed him. I shouldn’t have — the hotel wasn’t even close. After walking around for an hour searching for an address and failing in multiple attempts to get directions from locals, I ended up in another cab and driving six-plus miles -– for about 45 minutes in six lanes of stop-and-go Moscow traffic –- to my hotel.

I arrived to VTB Ice Palace in Moscow just after the start of the 12:15 p.m. Switzerland-Czech Republic game. It was a unique experience watching a game and focusing on only one player. You can really lock into what that player is doing, especially watching live from up above.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to speak to Kempny. I stopped him as he came through the mixed zone, but he said he didn’t speak English and departed. The Czech Republic media contact said I could email him a few questions that he would translate for Kempny. We’ll see if that happens.

In the meantime, here are some of my observations from watching Kempny:

* The first play I saw him make was impressive. He began skating with the puck out of the defensive zone and encountered a single forechecker. He spun around with the puck, avoided the defender and prepared for another breakout. He then carried the puck out of the defensive zone and into the neutral zone. As he approached the blue line, he pulled his stick back and was going to dump the puck. Instead he saw a teammate making a cut across the blue line, and Kempny quickly hit him with a short pass. His play recognition was noticeable throughout the day.

* Kempny never seemed rattled or uneasy when there was pressure on him with the puck in the defensive zone. There were times when he used his skating ability to avoid the forecheck, and others when he found an open teammate to get it to. He also seemed to understand that sometimes it’s best to just clear the puck out of the zone to avoid a turnover.

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman will be able to watch Michal Kempny in person on Thursday. (Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)
 
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman will be able to watch Michal Kempny in person on Thursday. (Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)

* He has a strong shot and can get it off while moving laterally. He was often the lone defenseman on the point for the Czech Republic’s power play. On a power-play goal against Switzerland, he skated across the point from right to left while always ready to shoot. He was patient and finally released a shot that was redirected at the net for a goal, recording the primary assist. He has two points in seven tournament games and has averaged a little more than two shots on net per game.

* Kempny was aggressive a few times getting up in the play, but he was mostly mindful of his defensive responsibilities. I don’t recall any odd-man rushes occurring while he was on the ice at even strength. He’s a plus-7, which is tied for the team lead, so he’s obviously on the ice for more goals for than goals against.

* The defenseman can skate. He’s not a speed demon, but he can get around. He wasn’t challenged much in one-on-one scenarios, so it’s difficult to gauge his gap positioning and speed getting back.

* At 6-foot and about 190 pounds, Kempny can skate. He wasn’t extremely physical, but he also wasn’t being tossed around. He played on the penalty kill and worked to deny the opponent’s net-front presence.

* Kempny wears an “A” for the Czech Republic, which has been one of the surprise stories at the Worlds. The Czech Republic won five games in regulation, one in overtime and lost once in overtime to accumulate 18 points in pool play. The roster includes only four NHL players.

* Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has been in St. Petersburg with Team USA, so he hasn’t seen Kempny in person during the tournament yet. That will change Thursday when the U.S. plays the Czech Republic in a quarterfinal game.

* Here’s what Bowman said of Kempny on Sunday: “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.”

 

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Alflives Canucks Hall-of-Famer

Alflives

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19 hours ago, Fred65 said:

It appears JB is interested in Czech D, Michal Kempny. Unfortunately So to is Stan Bowman in Chicago

 

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2016/05/18/report-canucks-chasing-czech-defenceman-michal-kempny/

 

 

 

 

 

If the guy has the desire to win a Cup, I'm thinking he goes to Chicago.  If he picks us, it must be about more money.  Then, do we really want that type of guy?  

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Boudrias Canucks All-Star

Boudrias

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2 hours ago, Alflives said:

If the guy has the desire to win a Cup, I'm thinking he goes to Chicago.  If he picks us, it must be about more money.  Then, do we really want that type of guy?  

 

2 hours ago, Alflives said:

If the guy has the desire to win a Cup, I'm thinking he goes to Chicago.  If he picks us, it must be about more money.  Then, do we really want that type of guy?  

Don't know why you are bringing up the money question. If I was evaluating my opportunity between the two orgs Vancouver would seriously appeal. One of the weakest d-cores in the NHL. More opportunity to make the roster. A player with any self confidence would take that opportunity.

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Alflives Canucks Hall-of-Famer

Alflives

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38 minutes ago, Boudrias said:

 

Don't know why you are bringing up the money question. If I was evaluating my opportunity between the two orgs Vancouver would seriously appeal. One of the weakest d-cores in the NHL. More opportunity to make the roster. A player with any self confidence would take that opportunity.

Does Chicago sign these guys (Parnarin for example) without having a spot for them, where said player will be given opportunity to play with top players?  The guy could most likely stay in the KHL and make more money than his ELC, so why would he choose us over Chicago?  He must be coming to win a Cup.  IMHAO, of course.

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Fred65 Canucks First-Line

Fred65

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1 hour ago, Alflives said:

Does Chicago sign these guys (Parnarin for example) without having a spot for them, where said player will be given opportunity to play with top players?  The guy could most likely stay in the KHL and make more money than his ELC, so why would he choose us over Chicago?  He must be coming to win a Cup.  IMHAO, of course.

I'm sure this has a lot to do with players wanting out of the KHL. I think salaries are going to be paid in Ruble this next season and the value of the ruble was and is plummeting. Sure they'd like to stay home just like most NA players and have their friends & families around . Radulov doesn't want to come back because of his desire to play in the NHL it's his desire to be paid in the green back. There's a large segment of players on the move out of the KHL ( or so it seems to me ) as contracts have to be renewed ...I'd think. So there may be opportunities for the smart GM ....does that include JB .... we'll see. But so far we've snagged two ( Larson and Tryamkin ) and who knows maybe more to come. TO made a nice pick up with Nikita Zaitsev, 24 years old and coming into his prime.

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Alflives Canucks Hall-of-Famer

Alflives

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1 minute ago, Fred65 said:

I'm sure this has a lot to do with players wanting out of the KHL. I think salaries are going to be paid in Ruble this next season and the value of the ruble was and is plummeting. Sure they'd like to stay home just like most NA players and have their friends & families around . Radulov doesn't want to come back because of his desire to play in the NHL it's his desire to be paid in the green back. There's a large segment of players on the move out of the KHL ( or so it seems to me ) as contracts have to be renewed ...I'd think. So there may be opportunities for the smart GM ....does that include JB .... we'll see. But so far we've snagged two ( Larson and Tryamkin ) and who knows maybe more to come. TO made a nice pick up with Nikita Zaitsev, 24 years old and coming into his prime.

Oh, I didn't know about the Ruble stuff.  Then let's start getting the best ones here!  

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