D – Michal Kempny
It’s back to defenseman we go. Kempny is a little bit like the previously mentioned John Moore. In fact, his advanced number are slightly better than Moore (mostly in offensive zone entries and defensive zone exits).
The Avalanche could really benefit from a player like Kempny. He possesses a true two-way game that makes him easy to pair with other defenseman. He can be moved up and down the defensive pairings as needed and, like Moore, would be much more capable in a top-4 role than AHL defenseman.
Kempny played a top-6 role for the Blackhawks before being dealt to the Capitals around the Trade Deadline. He’s currently playing top-4 minutes for the Capitals in these playoffs and overall does not seem to be a defensive liability.
Next: Colorado Avalanche's Logjam at Defense
Kempny’s availability may be a little higher than John Moore’s come July 1st. The Capitals will have a little over 13.5 million in cap space for next season, but they have some big decisions to make with some other players like John Carlson, Tom Wilson and others. Kempny may well be a casualty of a cap-strapped team and be forced into free agency. If that’s the case, Kempny would be a welcome addition to the Avs back end.