I'm judging, not "assuming", that Kapanen is in our top 12-13 forwards. Not based on one game, but the entire training camp, World Championship, WJC, Liiga playoff, and 2nd half of last season. For nine months he has successfully rounded out his game.
If Kapanen is as good in the next week as he was the last 9 months, he would have no more need to get "1st line reps" in a weaker league than Roy or Hutson do.
Can you imagine when Suzuki made the squad as a 4th line winger, if instead we sent him to Europe to get "1st line reps" somewhere? Even if his Dad was the GM there, it would make no sense.