Kasperi Kapanen (Aberg/J Lindgren) Traded to Pittsburgh (15OV/Hallander/E Rod/Warf to Toronto)

[PensandCaps]

Kahun for Maatta...wow! Kahun for Sheary...isn't Kahun a centre and isn't Sheary a winger?

no. kahun is a winger

 

[K Fleur]

We were all hyped about our top 6 being the best in the Sid/Geno era in July too and then they played like shit.

On paper it’s great, but I think I’m with others that it might be too one note.

 

[PensandCaps]

Sorry pixies but you're objectively wrong on this one. Not only does Zucker retrieve pucks - he does it more than literally anyone in the NHL.



I absolutely agree that Zucker is comparable to Dupuis in terms of his speed and forechecking ability.

@pixiesfanyo you litteraly couldn't have been more wrong lol

 

[JackFr]

Yeah, it should be noted that the last time Kapanen was used solely like a top-6 forward, he had 11 goals and 21 points in 29 games with a 2.52 5v5 points/60, which is a pace of 31 goals and 59 points per 82 games. That was the stat line he put up last year as Nylander was holding out. His production started going down after that point because Nylander took offensive minutes away from him.

I definitely don't think he's going to be a 30-30 player in the Penguins top-6, but I'm expecting at least a 25-25 line out of him to start.

Keep in mind that this was from a spell in which Auston Matthews scored at like a generational rate, Kap shot at 18%, and had a PDO of 103.6. Let's not uh count on that being sustainable.

If you look at his on-ice stats with 34 and 91 in the past two seasons things look a little different to say that least.

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

They will put Kap on the 3rd line and Simon on the 1st

watch

 

[JackFr]

I really can't emphasize enough that whatever player #15 turns into doesn't really matter. The problem was targeting a question mark (to say the least) with a package that should have and probably could have returned us a more impactful player.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

I really can't emphasize enough that whatever player #15 turns into doesn't really matter. The problem was targeting a question mark (to say the least) with a package that should have and probably could have returned us a more impactful player.

true but if there werent question marks he wouldnt be available for a mid 1st rd pick.

anyone want to trade guentzel for a mid 1st and a b prospect? Yeah i didnt think so. Guys without question marks dont get traded for that.

 

[OswaldBates]

They will put Kap on the 3rd line and Simon on the 1st

watch

NO! Sid will put Simon on his line

 

[OswaldBates]

I really can't emphasize enough that whatever player #15 turns into doesn't really matter. The problem was targeting a question mark (to say the least) with a package that should have and probably could have returned us a more impactful player.

& you know this How!?

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

NO! Sid will put Simon on his line

It'd be nice to know how that really has worked out the past 15 years. If it's really been Sid pulling the strings on what line mates he has for the past 15 years

 

[Turin]

I really can't emphasize enough that whatever player #15 turns into doesn't really matter. The problem was targeting a question mark (to say the least) with a package that should have and probably could have returned us a more impactful player.

I agree that JR gave up too much. I don’t agree to the extent you think a Kapanen is a question mark.

 

[OswaldBates]

It'd be nice to know how that really has worked out the past 15 years. If it's really been Sid pulling the strings on what line mates he has for the past 15 years

Mario did Jagr Did & Sid does

 

[Allie Kitsune]

Just this whole entire trade cycle drives me nuts, and I don't know why.

But I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Derrick Pouliot.

 

[JackFr]

true but if there werent question marks he wouldnt be available for a mid 1st rd pick.

anyone want to trade guentzel for a mid 1st and a b prospect? Yeah i didnt think so. Guys without question marks dont get traded for that.

& you know this How!?

Literally months ago we acquired Jason Zucker for arguably less than this package. Compare what was assumed to be a ~25th overall pick + Calen Addison + terrible UFA Alex Galchenyuk with the 15th overall pick + Filip Hallander + serviceable RFA Evan Rodrigues.

Right before that, Boston acquired Ondrej Kase for a very late 1st and a Hallander-equivalent prospect. And on top of that, they dumped the equivalent of Jack Johnson.

It's pretty obvious that JR wanted Kapanen and zeroed in on him.

 

[SEALBound]

@pixiesfanyo you litteraly couldn't have been more wrong lol

I can't wait for his response to be something centered around JR signing JJ.

 

[Gurglesons]

@pixiesfanyo you litteraly couldn't have been more wrong lol

My argument wasn't that Zucker was good on the forecheck. My argument was about how Soggy Biscuits is framing him as a Dupuis look alike.

 

[vodeni]

I have watched countless hours of Kapanen playing (I live in Toronto with a Leafs fan). He is all tools no toolbox. His hockey IQ is extremely low relative to his speed, and it's what's held him back from being a proper top six forward. I do not think he's a good fit with Crosby or Malkin.

perfect player for Sully, he may last two periods in top 6

 

[mpp9]

Zucker will work with Malkin. He didn't because Rust and Zucker are too much of the same. The issue is that I don't think Kapanen is much different than Rust, and I'd argue he is less skilled.

What I see as the positives.

1) Kapanen has every reason to want to put last year behind him in term of production and will have a much bigger opportunity as a top 6 forward
2) 87 and 71 are on a different level as playmakers vs Matthews/JT
3) Kapanen will get looks on the PP as one of our only RHSs whereas that would never happen regularly in Toronto.
4) High end speed and forechecking really helps Sid play the way he wants
5) Kapanen isn't done developing and is cheap for pretty much the remainder of our window


Definite overpayment. Is what it is.

 

[JackFr]

I agree that JR gave up too much. I don’t agree to the extent you think a Kapanen is a question mark.

On the Galchenyuk -> Zucker scale he is a lot closer to Galchenyuk.

He's been a third or fourth liner for his whole career save for like 14 games when Nylander was holding out. His underlying numbers have not been good. His hockey IQ has been constantly cited as a problem. And we're pencilling him on our top line.

It is not a safe bet that he will score 25 + 25 for us. I do not think he will fit in with Crosby and I'm skeptical about the fit with Malkin.

 

[JackFr]

My argument wasn't that Zucker was good on the forecheck. My argument was about how Soggy Biscuits is framing him as a Dupuis look alike.

Fair. I think he has many of the skills that made Dupuis effective + a lot more talent.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I see a lot of the same stuff with Kap here that I saw with Galchenyuk last year.

"Sid/Malkin are puck wizards! They'll fix him!"

 

[66-30-33]

On the Galchenyuk -> Zucker scale he is a lot closer to Galchenyuk.

He's been a third or fourth liner for his whole career save for like 14 games when Nylander was holding out. His underlying numbers have not been good. His hockey IQ has been constantly cited as a problem. And we're pencilling him on our top line.

It is not a safe bet that he will score 25 + 25 for us. I do not think he will fit in with Crosby and I'm skeptical about the fit with Malkin.

Well he would make a good 3rd line with Tierney and maybe McCann while Crosby can have Simon.

 

[Daeni10]

Kapanen better works with Sid or else this deal is absolutely horrible. You give up so much value for a position that isn't your primary need.
If you look at it in the most basic (and, I will admit, unfair) way possible, you turned Kahun+Hallander+15th overall into Kapanen. If Kapanen doesn't work out on Sids wing he adds absolutely nothing to this roster. We already have speedy wingers that can play on the PK. Tanev-Kapanen-Rust is basically the same type of player just better or worse. And it's not like Tanev and Kapanen are on super cheap contracts.

I'm fine with 15th overall+Hallander being traded, but I would have much rather seen that package being traded for a cheap and solid bottom pairing defenseman with top 4 upside.

 

[HandshakeLine]

This thread is the hockey equivalent of watching my aunts tear through a box or two of zin and then try to have a discussion on tax policy.

I love it.

 

[Allie Kitsune]

Literally months ago we acquired Jason Zucker for arguably less than this package. Compare what was assumed to be a ~25th overall pick + Calen Addison + terrible UFA Alex Galchenyuk with the 15th overall pick + Filip Hallander + serviceable RFA Evan Rodrigues.

Right before that, Boston acquired Ondrej Kase for a very late 1st and a Hallander-equivalent prospect. And on top of that, they dumped the equivalent of Jack Johnson.

It's pretty obvious that JR wanted Kapanen and zeroed in on him.

I think at this point, it's also obvious that JR's reputation precedes him, and GMs aren't gonna deal with him until he blinks and overpays.

Which of course, is also a problem.