Kasperi Kapanen

Kasperi Kapanen
Kapanen during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs on 3 October 2021
Born (1996-07-23) 23 July 1996 (age 30)
Kuopio, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Edmonton Oilers
KalPa
Toronto Maple Leafs
Pittsburgh Penguins
St. Louis Blues
National team  Finland
NHL draft 22nd overall, 2014
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2013–present

Samu Kasperi Kapanen (born 23 July 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right winger. He currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. Outside of the NHL, Kapanen played for KalPa of the SM-liiga/Liiga.

Career

Before playing in the NHL, Kapanen played three seasons with KalPa of the SM-liiga/Liiga.

He was drafted 22nd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL entry draft. On 11 July 2014, Kapanen signed a three-year, $2.775 million entry-level contract to join the Penguins. he was sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He didn't play a regular season game for Pittsburgh. On 1 July 2015, the Penguins traded Kapanen along with Scott Harrington, Nick Spaling, and both a 2016 conditional first-round and third-round draft pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Phil Kessel, Tim Erixon, Tyler Biggs, and a 2016 conditional second-round draft pick. Toronto sent him down to play for their AHL-affiliate Toronto Marlies.

On 13 October 2021, the Leafs called him up and Kapanen made his NHL debut in a 2–1 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning. On 8 April 2017, Kapanen scored his first NHL goal against Marc-André Fleury in a 5–3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played five seasons with the Leafs.

On 25 August 2020, the Leafs traded Kapanen along with Pontus Åberg and Jesper Lindgren back to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for David Warsofsky, Evan Rodrigues, Filip Hållander and a 2020 first-round draft pick. On 21 July 2022, Kapanen signed a two-year, $6.4 million contract to stay with the Penguins.

On 24 February 2023, the Penguins placed Kapanen onto waivers and his contract was picked up by the St. Louis Blues the next day. He played parts of three seasons with the Blues.

On 19 November 2024, the Blues placed Kapanen onto waivers and his contract was picked up by the Edmonton Oilers the next day. On 30 June 2025, Kapanen signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract to stay with the Oilers. On 1 July 2026, Kapanen signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract to stay with the Oilers.

Personal life

Kapanen comes from a family of hockey players. His father Sami was a professional hockey player who played 12 season in the NHL. Kapanen's grandfather Hannu, uncle Kimmo, and cousin Oliver were also all professional players.

In 2023 September, Kapanen was arrested on suspicion of aggravated drunk driving. On 8 February 2024, he was fined 108,700€ by a Finnish court for the incident.

References

  1. ↑ "Kapanen falls to Penguins at 22nd overall". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Penguins Sign Forward Kasperi Kapanen to a 3-year Entry Level Contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ "Penguins acquire Kessel from Maple Leafs". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ "Kasperi Kapanen still fighting to carve out role with Maple Leafs". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Kapanen's first NHL goal comes at perfect time for Leafs". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Penguins Acquire Kapanen, Aberg and Lindgren from Toronto". Pittsburgh Penguins. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Penguins Re-Sign Forward Kasperi Kapanen to a Two-Year Contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Blues claim Kapanen off waivers". St. Louis Blues. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Blues Place Struggling Forward on Waivers". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Release: Oilers claim Kasperi Kapanen off waivers". Edmonton Oilers. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Release: Oilers re-sign Kapanen to one-year contract". Edmonton Oilers. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Release: Oilers re-sign Kasperi Kapanen to one-year contract". Edmonton Oilers. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Sami Kapanen on son Kasperi's Oilers surge and the 'opportunity of a lifetime'". The New York Times. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Report: Former Maple Leafs Forward Kasperi Kapanen Suspected of Aggravated Drunk Driving". The Hockey News. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Ex-Leafs forward Kapanen gets a hefty fine for drunk driving". Daily Hive. Retrieved August 31, 2026.

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