Kasperi Kapanen

The Blues claimed Kapanen off waivers towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign, and it looked like the journeyman winger finally put everything together with eight goals and six assists across 23 games. That reality was short-lived, however, as Kapanen generated just 22 points across 73 games last year. The 28-year-old can still hold his own in the defensive zone, so the Blues brought him back for another season. While he maintains a clear offensive upside, it will likely be too unpredictable for fantasy managers to take advantage of.

Kapanen's game took off after the Blues acquired him on waivers from the Penguins last year. Overall, the winger collected 34 points last season, though it came in 66 games. That's right in line with his established production over the previous three years, and it's tough to expect a breakout in his age-27 season in 2023-24. Kapanen can still throw the body around enough to supplement his scoring, and while he had no power-play points with the Blues, he saw an extra minute of ice time per game with the man advantage following his change in scenery. If it looks like he's going to get a top-six role out of training camp, Kapanen will be a solid late-round dart throw in fantasy circles this year. Just keep in mind that 40 points is likely his ceiling.

Kapanen's 2021-22 season could not be described as anything other than a disappointment. He managed 11 goals and 32 points in 79 games, almost the exact same numbers he posted in just 40 games the year prior. Kapanen has exceptional speed, but he's long had issues with putting the puck in the net on a consistent basis and has just 15 points with the man advantage in 321 career NHL games. Now 26 years of age, the breakout from Kapanen many have been expecting may never materialize.

Kapanen made a triumphant return to the franchise that originally drafted him 22nd overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft last year. Acquired in an offseason deal with Toronto, Kapanen broke out in a big way in his first season with Pittsburgh, notching 11 goals and 30 points in 40 games while posting a career-high 16.2% shooting rate. The Finnish winger has become a more well-rounded player and looks to have secured a role in Pittsburgh's potent top-six - he could also reprise his role as the fourth forward on the Penguins' top power-play unit. Kapanen faces competition on a Pens team with a plethora of skilled wingers itching to play with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and some regression in shooting percentage should be expected. However, there is opportnity for Kapanen to continue his breakout into the 2021-22 season, giving him plenty of upside in latter rounds of fantasy drafts.

As expected when Kapanen was reacquired by the Penguins this offseason, coach Mike Sullivan has confirmed that the speedy winger will be given every opportunity to cement himself into a first-line role alongside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Even without the league going on hiatus, it was a down year for the 23-year-old Finn in 2019-20, as he failed to reach the 20-goal mark after doing so in 2018-19, and would have been hard-pressed to do so even in a full 82-game season. Playing on the top line with Crosby, expectations will be high for Kapanen to not only reach that 20-goal threshold but to perhaps push well beyond it this season. In Toronto, Kapanen was used sparingly on the power play, but he should be a lock for a spot on the No. 2 unit in Pittsburgh, and could challenge for more opportunities with a strong training camp.

Kapanen started on the fourth line last season, but roared into the top nine due to William Nylander's absence. He even spent considerable time with stud Auston Matthews, so it's not surprising that the 2014 first-round speedster was able to put up 19 goals and 41 points in his first 63 games. Yes, Kapanen's offense cooled considerably at the end of the season, but we like his combination of positive possession, elite speed, excellent hustle and great hands. Kapanen should reprise his role alongside Auston Matthews in 2019-20, and should be a 55-to-60 point player.

Kapanen was a beast on the fourth line in 38 games with the Buds in 2017-18. His speed made him impossible to handle. In fact, he's probably the fastest Leaf on two blades and one of the speediest guys in the entire league. Kapanen scored seven goals and added two assists with the Leafs, plus another 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 28 AHL games last year. Kapanen will bring his talented speed game to the Leafs' bottom-six in 2018-19. He'll duke it out with Connor Brown for a gig on the third line, and while he's more likely to see penalty-killing duty than power-play time, he could have 15-20 goals in his stick this season. There's fantasy value in that, but only in deep formats.

Kapanen's game has really grown in the AHL -- he delivered at a point-per-game pace in 43 contests for the AHL Toronto Marlies in 2016-17. There, he developed a much stronger two-way game and even earned time on the penalty kill. Kapanen's future with the Leafs is somewhat cloudy, though. He profiles as an excellent two-way right winger in the bottom six, but the Leafs are flush with right wingers. Couple that with his flexibility -- he can go back and forth between the AHL and NHL without passing through waivers -- and that means he'll likely break camp with the Marlies. Kapanen will be an injury recall for the Leafs, but that isn't enough to roster him this season.

Kapanen was the centerpiece of the Phil Kessel trade, but does that make him a future stud? Scouts are torn. Some see him as a smooth-skating, high-skill winger with strong hockey sense who scores goals at will. Others wonder if his size (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) will prevent him from truly exceling and that his ultimate upside is in the top-nine of a strong team. His defensive game needs help, but that’s nothing new for many teenage players. And he needs time to thicken his body before we truly see where he’ll fit into the Leafs’ overall structure. Leafs fans love him, but we’re more realistic. We like him and hope he can become the scorer he was projected to be when the Pens drafted him in the first round. He’ll grow his game in the minors this season, and we’ll reassess next year.

Kapanen makes for a strong pickup in keeper leagues. The Penguins have stated that the son of former NHLer Sami Kapanen will get a long look at training camp to make the team. He certainly impressed scouts during this summer’s rookie camp with his combination of vision and speed. Still, it's unlikely the 18-year-old makes much of a fantasy impact in 2014-15. He suited up against older players -- including his father -- for KalPa in Finland last season and scored seven goals and 14 points in 47 games. Taken 22nd overall by Pittsburgh as one of the best European prospects on the board, Kapanen will have to really impress management to crack the squad this season. Even if he doesn't, however, his future as one of Pittsburgh's few elite forward prospects is bright.