RW Kasperi Kapanen (2014, 22nd, PIT; traded to TOR)

[Periwinkle]

I think Kapanen's actual talent level is a puzzle to get a read on. He's a great skater with great hands, but there's a huge pile of prospects with exceptional wheels who don't amount to much, kids who have all the skill with the stick but can't translate that to their games. What makes me go ??? is that Kapanen's stats have not been spectacular, but then again he's often played with players older than him, in bad team, etc. The state of KalPa is well known and U18 team this year seemed a mess starting with incompetent coaching. Kapanen's game has that straightforwardness appealing on NA ice (when not getting caught in fancy plays for the sake of them). There's still not much evidence of him being as effective as the elements of skill set would allow for. His international junior stats, when facing his peers, are good, but not spectacular. Hence the question marks.

EDIT: I was actually typing this (slowly...) on my phone while the conversations at the previous page were posted- I see some of you have the same concerns as me.

 

[BusQuets]

Your actually talking about his biggest flaw at the moment, which should be enough to add you in the "do-no-bother-to-quate" -list. No offense, just don't wanna waste my time.

http://www.islandersinsight.com/2014/06/islanders-draft-options-kasperi-kapanen/

You might want to read this report. Vision is one of his strengths and his biggest weakness is his light weight which everyone know except you. "No offense, but i don't want to talk with someone who clearly haven't even seen Kapanen play".

 

[chethejet]

Not a hockey expert by any means, but this player just jumped out at me. He is very smooth and yes has very good hands. Give him time to mature physically and he will be more than a decent winger. Also don't discount his dad helping him with his career as he adjusts to the NHL game.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I think Kapanen's actual talent level is a puzzle to get a read on. He's a great skater with great hands, but there's a huge pile of prospects with exceptional wheels who don't amount to much, kids who have all the skill with the stick but can't translate that to their games. What makes me go ??? is that Kapanen's stats have not been spectacular, but then again he's often played with players older than him, in bad team, etc. The state of KalPa is well known and U18 team this year seemed a mess starting with incompetent coaching. Kapanen's game has that straightforwardness appealing on NA ice (when not getting caught in fancy plays for the sake of them). There's still not much evidence of him being as effective as the elements of skill set would allow for. His international junior stats, when facing his peers, are good, but not spectacular. Hence the question marks.

EDIT: I was actually typing this (slowly...) on my phone while the conversations at the previous page were posted- I see some of you have the same concerns as me.

He had a shoulder injury that kept him out of the WJCs and hampered his effectiveness thereafter.

 

[kelsier]

http://www.islandersinsight.com/2014/06/islanders-draft-options-kasperi-kapanen/

You might want to read this report. Vision is one of his strengths and his biggest weakness is his light weight which everyone know except you. "No offense, but i don't want to talk with someone who clearly haven't even seen Kapanen play".

Welcome to the wonderful world of the internet where you can find pretty much anything from anywhere. I will try this one more time, eventhough it is rare to even get an echo by knocking on a dead wood.

Why I quated you regarding on the vision was because you obviously had an illusion that vision and hockey IQ are the same thing. A player may have a good on ice vision, but it doesn't mean much if he is unable to take advantage on it. Often this is caused by lack of hockey IQ. In KK's case it's hard to say at this point wether he lacks of good hockey IQ or if he is just accustomed doing things his on way.
His hockey IQ definately isn't off the charts.

Being 17 years old and weighting approximately 180lbs (while being ~6"0) is light weight in your mind. Right, m'kay. Fine lets forget about that for a minute. You however didn't only take a piece out of context that was not there and assumed about things I knew or did not know, but raised an argument so inaccurate against yourself, I couldn't help but chuckle. The kid is just good with his height and weight compared to his years
Feel free to raise another case if the recent numbers are not accurate and he actually weights less, but I've come across them in different sources.

To conclude I made a number of examples in observation on his game in u18 WJHC and then you go on with "yadayada... with someone who's not seen him play" pretty much just nails it.

Call it a 6th sense or something, but this was nothing but wasted time. And please, in the future stop assuming things or tell someone what they know or don't know unless you got anything (at all) to support that claim, atleast if you don't want to look like a clown. This is the end of that.


Now back to the topic. What I DO like about him is the fact he's got less bust potential compared to his peers who play that type of a game. I see him as someone who could one day be a top line winger (ceiling) and the very least a good north-south type of a player due speed, hands and agility especially if he adds more physicality. J. Jokinen with top end speed sounds nice as well.

 

[Periwinkle]

He had a shoulder injury that kept him out of the WJCs and hampered his effectiveness thereafter.

Well obviously I didn't count a tournament he didn't even participate in. This spring's U18 was also not counted in that comment by means of not being good showing to begin with (5 GP 1 G 1A). I referred to numbers like this

2011-12 Finland U16 (all) International-Jr 16GP 11G 6A
2012-13 Finland U17 WHC-17 5GP 3G 6A
Finland U18 WJC-18 7GP 5G 3A
Finland U18 Hlinka Memorial 4GP 1G 1A

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=92226

Those numbers are fine, but don't jump at you for being the stats of an exceptional scorer.

 

[BusQuets]

Welcome to the wonderful world of the internet where you can find pretty much anything from anywhere. I will try this one more time, eventhough it is rare to even get an echo by knocking on a dead wood.

Why I quated you regarding on the vision was because you obviously had an illusion that vision and hockey IQ are the same thing. A player may have a good on ice vision, but it doesn't mean much if he is unable to take advantage on it. Often this is caused by lack of hockey IQ. In KK's case it's hard to say at this point wether he lacks of good hockey IQ or if he is just accustomed doing things his on way.
His hockey IQ definately isn't off the charts.

Being 17 years old and weighting approximately 180lbs (while being ~6"0) is light weight in your mind. Right, m'kay. Fine lets forget about that for a minute. You however didn't only take a piece out of context that was not there and assumed about things I knew or did not know, but raised an argument so inaccurate against yourself, I couldn't help but chuckle. The kid is just good with his height and weight compared to his years
Feel free to raise another case if the recent numbers are not accurate and he actually weights less, but I've come across them in different sources.

To conclude I made a number of examples in observation on his game in u18 WJHC and then you go on with "yadayada... with someone who's not seen him play" pretty much just nails it.

Call it a 6th sense or something, but this was nothing but wasted time. And please, in the future stop assuming things or tell someone what they know or don't know unless you got anything (at all) to support that claim, atleast if you don't want to look like a clown. This is the end of that.


Now back to the topic. What I DO like about him is the fact he's got less bust potential compared to his peers who play that type of a game. I see him as someone who could one day be a top line winger (ceiling) and the very least a good north-south type of a player due speed, hands and agility especially if he adds more physicality. J. Jokinen with top end speed sounds nice as well.

How can scouts know you have a good vision if player is unable to use it..? Makes no sense like most of your post which consist only shots at me and nothing about Kapanen and the weakness you think he has like the hockey iq thing where you are already proven wrong.

Your "observations" also lose their validity because of you misguided facts about Kapanen. Also judging from pictures no way he is 180lbs and being 6foot that is pretty light for NHL, we are not talking normal people here, they are athletics ok?

Let's see then there is "yadada" okay.. Then something about your 6th sense I don't know and then you call me clown. Nice post overall(sarcasm). And of all players you think his comparable is Jussi Jokinen? . Oh well.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=92226

Those numbers are fine, but don't jump at you for being the stats of an exceptional scorer.

He led Team Finland in scoring in the U17 tourney and was 2nd only to Lehkonen in the U18s in '12-'13, finishing 6th in the tourney in the latter outproducing guys like Nichushkin, Reinhart, Draisaitl, Bennett, Ritchie, and Nylander, so I'm really not sure what you're talking about:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/league.php?leagueid=WJC-18&season=2012

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Now back to the topic. What I DO like about him is the fact he's got less bust potential compared to his peers who play that type of a game. I see him as someone who could one day be a top line winger (ceiling) and the very least a good north-south type of a player due speed, hands and agility especially if he adds more physicality. J. Jokinen with top end speed sounds nice as well.

Jokinen has hands and plays a north-south game?

News to me. He must've put on a helluva display in the 10 Pens games I missed this year.

He looked great in the prospects game and impressed the hell out of the Pens brass. Good enough for me.

 

[Periwinkle]

He led Team Finland in scoring in the U17 tourney and was 2nd only to Lehkonen in the U18s in '12-'13, finishing 6th in the tourney in the latter outproducing guys like Nichushkin, Reinhart, Draisaitl, Bennett, Ritchie, and Nylander, so I'm really not sure what you're talking about:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/league.php?leagueid=WJC-18&season=2012

Leading Team Finland in scoring by itself doesn't prove that much as we always tend to be very thin on scorers per age group. Certainly he's had good showings in tournaments, but overall his PPG rates are not spectacular.

I'm not trying to be down on the kid, he's certainly talented and I hope lives up to his potential, I root for any Finnish prospect succeeding. Just seeing people claim him being up there with all-time Finnish talents rings odd to me, when I personally rate even players in-or-near his age group higher.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Leading Team Finland in scoring by itself doesn't prove that much as we always tend to be very thin on scorers per age group. Certainly he's had good showings in tournaments, but overall his PPG rates are not spectacular.

I'm not trying to be down on the kid, he's certainly talented and I hope lives up to his potential, I root for any Finnish prospect succeeding. Just seeing people claim him being up there with all-time Finnish talents rings odd to me, when I personally rate even players in-or-near his age group higher.

I'm certainly not saying that. Just that he's a promising talent who's scored well versus the best of his peers prior to his shoulder injury, which seemed to derail the hype train considerably.

 

[kelsier]

Jokinen has hands and plays a north-south game?

News to me. He must've put on a helluva display in the 10 Pens games I missed this year.

He looked great in the prospects game and impressed the hell out of the Pens brass. Good enough for me.

Yeah Jokinen does have hands (don't we all) allthough not elite. I wouldn't call Kasperi's hands elite either. And no he is not north-short type of a player, never said he was. But he is a sniper, something that KK could be too.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Yeah Jokinen does have hands (don't we all) allthough not elite. I wouldn't call Kasperi's hands elite either. And no he is not north-short type of a player, never said he was. But he is a sniper, something that KK could be too.

However you want to phrase it, Kapanen pulled off more handsy moves in one scrimmage than I saw Jokinen attempt over the entire course of his time with the Pens. The coaching staff specifically put him up against one of the best shutdown prospects in hockey (Harrington), and Kapanen was giving him all he could handle with inside/out moves, cutbacks, etc.

That's not necessarily an indictment on Jokinen, who generally uses his smarts to generate offense, just an observation. One-on-one, at least, there's really no question who has more tools, IMHO.

 

[kelsier]

However you want to phrase it, Kapanen pulled off more handsy moves in one scrimmage than I saw Jokinen attempt over the entire course of his time with the Pens. The coaching staff specifically put him up against one of the best shutdown prospects in hockey (Harrington), and Kapanen was giving him all he could handle with inside/out moves, cutbacks, etc.

That's not necessarily an indictment on Jokinen, who generally uses his smarts to generate offense, just an observation. One-on-one, at least, there's really no question who has more tools, IMHO.

He has good hands and no one here is denying that, not even the ones that are holding back the hypetrain. The main problem with him is that he's got a habit of trying to break down the whole defense by himself, instead of using his team mates as has been discussed in numerous occasions. He would be a turnover machine in a NA rink with the type of game he was playing in Finland or in the international ice. Hopefully they will be able to fix some of that gameplay on these camps. Otherwise I'm happy to hear he's doing well over there.

 

[Gaps]

Granlund has superior hockey IQ and now that he's actually able to skate he has elevated his game to a whole another level. Had high hopes for Kapanen in the u18 tournament (for the simple fact of having played against superior competition the past few years). The way he puckhogged game after game raised some real consern about this guy's vision and decision making. Even Nylander did this when all the while being able to produce and being a threat everytime he stepped on the ice. Kapanen isn't a natural goal scorer on the top tier level and while his hands are good and having no flaws in skating there are still way too many question marks to be talking of end tier Finnish product here. Next few years will tell alot. And yes, it's too early to pass a judgement on the kid but there are leaps need to be made and too much homerism in the air right now.

In some ways there's a lot of Armia in Kapanen. Both have a unique toolbox but cannot exploit it as well as they should (especially Armia). Kalpa might not be the best place for KK next season. He needs to learn to rely on his team mates and it's hard in a piss poor team.

Kapanen does need to rely more on his teammates and it won't happen in KalPa, but I'm hoping the U20 team will be able to give him a center who won't constantly hand the puck over to Kapanen. The sample size is small (thanks to Urama), but the Saarela/Kapanen duo looks like something that's worth a try.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

He has good hands and no one here is denying that, not even the ones that are holding back the hypetrain. The main problem with him is that he's got a habit of trying to break down the whole defense by himself, instead of using his team mates as has been discussed in numerous occasions. He would be a turnover machine in a NA rink with the type of game he was playing in Finland or in the international ice. Hopefully they will be able to fix some of that gameplay on these camps. Otherwise I'm happy to hear he's doing well over there.

I haven't seen enough of him to comment on that - you may well be right. Only commenting on the Jokinen comparison, which seemed misguided to say the least.

 

[kelsier]

Kapanen does need to rely more on his teammates and it won't happen in KalPa, but I'm hoping the U20 team will be able to give him a center who won't constantly hand the puck over to Kapanen. The sample size is small (thanks to Urama), but the Saarela/Kapanen duo looks like something that's worth a try.

Luckily the "Urama era" was as fast as it was ineffective. How he managed to get the task in the first place was almost as idiotic as playing Saarela only in two or so games. Will be a big year for both of these guys.

 

[thomast]

Kapanen is player who needs good players to play with and that will upgrade his game to a higher level. If he plays with players with lower talent he thinks that he needs to do everything by himself and usually it doesen't work out well. With better players he seems to play smarter, uses his linemates better and boost the other players aswell. He was most dynamic finnish player at 2013 U18 WC at the playoff rounds. But at 2014 U18 with him being leader he tried to do too much by himself. I think pens are perfect fit with him because he has sid and geno kind of talents to play with. I think that he has to mature up mentally aswell. He can be well spoken infront of media but at times you can see little bit of cockyness in his game especially when he is the man of the team like at the 2014 U18 WC.

 

[Valarukar]

Kapanen is player who needs good players to play with and that will upgrade his game to a higher level. If he plays with players with lower talent he thinks that he needs to do everything by himself and usually it doesen't work out well. With better players he seems to play smarter, uses his linemates better and boost the other players aswell. He was most dynamic finnish player at 2013 U18 WC at the playoff rounds. But at 2014 U18 with him being leader he tried to do too much by himself. I think pens are perfect fit with him because he has sid and geno kind of talents to play with. I think that he has to mature up mentally aswell. He can be well spoken infront of media but at times you can see little bit of cockyness in his game especiallu when he is the man of the team like at the 2014 U18 WC.

Well he won't be the man, the man up, or even probably the 3rd man up on the Pens so won't have to worry about that haha. Liked the pick then and like the pick now. High ceiling and if he can physically mature and fill out without losing speed I see almost no chance of him busting.

 

[chethejet]

I didn't compare to anyone in his age group or what he lacks. I stated he was a fortunate pick at 22 for a player who I suggest can be a really good winger as he matures. He can be a really good winger and may be Sids RW answer down the road. He has the "it" factor and very few I have seen have that kind of upside.

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

Folks shouldn't be so quick to dismiss Kasperi's hockey IQ.
Last season was an abomination, he thought he was the King of Kuopio, taking a role that has been absent since Olli Jokinen was 16, he got injured, he stank the place up

He's a teenager, 17 years old, he needs to be held by his hand and shown the right path forward. I think this training camp is the best possible thing for him, seeing how real professionals work day in day out. Watching what they eat, drink etc

 

[agent082]

So KalPa moves their bluelines 5 feet. It must be because of Kapanen

 

[Cyborg LeClair]

I was happy with the Sanheim pick for the Flyers, but I always wanted them to take Kapanen. It is a great tragedy of our time that he went to the Penguins. I think he still has a couple more years of developing to do before he should be in the NHL, but I expect with his speed and compete and skill, that he'll be a good top 6 player some day.

 

[JJTT]

So KalPa moves their bluelines 5 feet. It must be because of Kapanen

Didn't every team do this? Or just Kalpa

 

[Jussi]

Didn't every team do this? Or just Kalpa

All the teams in Europe, new IIHF rules.