The Edmonton Oilers claimed Kasperi Kapanen off the waiver wire on Nov. 19, and he made his Oilers debut last Thursday in their 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Kapanen played 12:10 minutes, primarily on the second line, filling in for a couple of top-six players who were out of the lineup. He registered a shot on goal, delivered four hits, and made his biggest impression by drawing two penalties—one earned by keeping his legs moving. With that in mind, let’s get acquainted with the new Oiler through some interesting facts below.
Kapanen’s Father Had a Successful NHL Career
The Kapanen family has deep hockey roots, with Kasperi’s father, Sami Kapanen, carving out a lengthy NHL career that paved the way for his son. In 12 seasons played with the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers, Sami amassed 458 points in 831 games. Despite standing at just 5-foot-8, he built an impressive career as one of the league’s smaller players.
His best season came in 2021-22 when he posted 27 goals and 42 assists for 69 points. Moreover, he was a two-time NHL All-Star (2000, 2002), and he showcased his blazing speed by winning the fastest skater competition at both events. That said, having quick feet must run in the family, as Kasperi currently ranks in the top 95th percentile for top speed in the NHL this season, according to NHL Edge data.
Furthermore, when the elder Kapanen’s NHL playing days were over, he and former NHLer Kimmo Timonen purchased the KalPa hockey team in the Finnish Liiga. Yet, he didn’t just sit and eat popcorn in the owner’s box—he also played for the team and tallied 146 points over five seasons.
Kapanen Started His Pro Hockey Career at 16, Playing With His Father
Having your father own a professional hockey team in your home country of Finland certainly comes with its perks. In the 2012-13 season, at just 16 years old, the younger Kapanen made his professional hockey debut, playing for KalPa—the team co-owned by his father.
Moreover, it was a proud moment for the Kapanen family when they became a father-son duo playing on the same professional hockey team. In his rookie season, the younger Kapanen scored four goals in 13 games.
The following year, his draft season, he tallied seven goals and 14 points in 47 games while competing in Finland’s top league. Reflecting on the experience of playing alongside his father, Kapanen said:
“It was a big thing for me. Probably a bigger thing for him. He had been dreaming about having that chance to play with his son. Now that I think about it, it was pretty amazing. At first it didn’t really hit me.”
Kapanen made a strong impression during his time with KalPa, and, heading into the 2014 NHL Draft, he was ranked first on NHL Central Scouting’s list of European skaters, which led to the Pittsburgh Penguins selecting him 22nd overall in 2014.
Kapanen Shaped His Game after Several Players, Including Now-Teammate Corey Perry
Kapanen is a right-shot, and as mentioned, he possesses impressive speed, which is likely one of the biggest reasons the Oilers claimed him off waivers. Before making it to the NHL, he was asked who he watches closely to model his game after, and he mentioned:
“I like to watch all those right-handed goal scorers: [Alex] Ovechkin, [Corey] Perry, [Jarome] Iginla, [Steven] Stamkos. Claude Giroux is not the biggest guy in the world — kind of like me — but at the same time we know how to be physical, and we like to play with the puck. He might be a close guy to compare.”
Now, the 28-year-old is on the same team as Corey Perry, a player he’s closely studied. Ironically, when considering the spots on the Oilers at right wing, Kapanen might end up rotating with Perry in the lineup when everyone is healthy.
Dermott and Brown Once Drew Parallels Between Kapanen and McDavid’s Speed
As mentioned, Kapanen currently ranks in the 95th percentile in the NHL for top speed— proof that the second-generation NHLer has some serious wheels. Moreover, from 2015 to 2020, the Finnish forward played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he was teammates with current Oilers Connor Brown and Travis Dermott.
Both were in awe of his speed when they played together in Toronto and even compared it to that of Oilers captain Connor McDavid, whom they played alongside during their Erie Otters days in the OHL. In addition, in 2018, in an interview with the Athletic, Dermott described Kapanen’s speed:
“His turn back … like no defenceman in the league can stop him when he nails his turn back at top speed. It’s just not possible, I don’t think. There’s no way to read a guy’s mind that quick, send the idea from my brain to my feet to turn with him and be even close by the time he actually commits to it.”
Additionally, Brown described McDavid’s speed as more ‘zig-zaggy,’ noting how he generates quickness with crossovers. However, he was enamoured with the Finn’s straight-line speed, saying, “Kapanen’s speed is what sets him apart. He can fly.”
Overall, despite not being teammates for nearly five years, Kapanen should feel some comfort in being reunited with former teammates Dermott, Brown, and Zach Hyman, who also played with him in Toronto. Moreover, with his former teammates comparing his speed to McDavid’s, it will be interesting to see if he gets the chance to play on the same line as the Oilers captain, just to see if they can find some chemistry.
Kapanen Has a Knack for Scoring Clutch Goals
Kapanen has scored 85 goals in the NHL, including a 20-goal season with the Maple Leafs back in 2018-19. Now, at 28 years old, the expectation when everyone is healthy is likely that the Oilers will use his speed in the bottom six. But if he can chip in with some big goals for the Oilers—say, in the playoffs—it would be a nice way to stick it to the St. Louis Blues for poaching both Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.
That said, Kapanen has scored some big goals throughout his hockey career, and he became a hero for Finland at the 2016 World Junior Championship. In a tournament where former Oiler Jesse Puljujarvi was named MVP, it was Kapanen who helped secure the gold, scoring the OT winner with a beautiful wraparound goal.
In 2017, when he was a member of the Maple Leafs, the game was tied 3-3 in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs when it went to double OT. At the 11:53 mark, Kapanen tucked home a goal from the side of the net to emerge as the OT hero, scoring his second of the game. Additionally, a year later, he scored a stunning shorthanded goal against the Boston Bruins in Game 7.
At this point, the Oilers are currently playing with house money after picking up Kapanen off of waivers at no cost. The team is counting on him to bring speed to the lineup, but if he can offer more, like tapping into the clutch scoring he’s shown before, it would be a huge bonus for the team. With that in mind, what are your expectations for Kapanen in this stretch with the Oilers?
