Capitals' Kempny out 4-6 months after surgery on torn hamstring

The Washington Capitals will be without defenseman Michal Kempny in their quest to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, as the 28-year-old will be sidelined four-to-six months after undergoing surgery on a torn hamstring, the team announced.

Kempny was taken hard into the boards March 20 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning and hasn't played since.

After being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the 2018 deadline, Kempny emerged as an important presence on the blue line during the Capitals' march to their first championship in franchise history.

He parlayed his strong first impression into a four-year, $10-million contract the following offseason and had recorded a career-high 24 points in 71 games before being sidelined.