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

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WilliamNylander said:
Seems like Leafs don't have plans to bring up many (if any) new kids this year with the FA signing they have made. Marlies will have a very young, talented roster though.
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With Komarov recent struggles with the law this is what I'm seeing for the Leafs up front;

JVR-Kadri-PAP
Panik-Bozak-Lupul
Bailey-Arcobello-Holland
Spaling-Winnik-Leipsic

Bailey and Leipsic are rookies, so those are the two new guys that would make your team. Additionnally, the next forwards in line are realistically Marner, Nylander, Kapanen and Gauthier, so unless Toronto signs more UFAs or promotes some career AHLers, yes Toronto will have a bunch of new rookies in their lineup.
 
#57 said:
With Komarov recent struggles with the law this is what I'm seeing for the Leafs up front;

JVR-Kadri-PAP
Panik-Bozak-Lupul
Bailey-Arcobello-Holland
Spaling-Winnik-Leipsic

Bailey and Leipsic are rookies, so those are the two new guys that would make your team. Additionnally, the next forwards in line are realistically Marner, Nylander, Kapanen and Gauthier, so unless Toronto signs more UFAs or promotes some career AHLers, yes Toronto will have a bunch of new rookies in their lineup.
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I think Brown gets a shot before Leipsic but I could be wrong. Potentially even on the 2nd with Bozak or the 3rd with Holland.
 
Highlight videos of him look pretty nice don't know where everyone is getting this whole bottom six thing from. But to be fair I haven't watched enough of him
 
tooncesmeow said:
As weird as it sounds that makes me so happy, Sykora was my favorite Devil. Not saying much since I'm a Leaf fan, but still!
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He's a much better skater than Sykora.

Watching him at the Pens development camp last year you could see his skating and stick handling are up there with the best. He just needs to get stronger and have a more consistent effort.

He had 5 points in 7 games in last years AHL playoffs. He's got a good shot at being a good top 6 winger in the NHL someday.
 
X66 said:
There is no denying that he has immense potential, and the goals he was scoring in the AHL were goals he was typically said he would try to avoid(tough areas of the ice).

He's not going to be in the NHL next year or the year after, and that's great, because the Leafs are going to take their sweet time to develop him properly , for the first time in ages.
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Kapanen's scored 4 goals in the AHL, so there's hardly a book on him.

Sounds like he almost made the Penguins as a barely 18 year old skater. Could have had a David Pastrnak type year for all we know.
 
Brown would for sure get a shot before leipsic
But there are quite a few forwards who could get a spot
(Random order)
Bailey
Hyman
Nylander
Kappa
Brown
leipsic
 
HavocWreaker said:
Brown would for sure get a shot before leipsic
But there are quite a few forwards who could get a spot
(Random order)
Bailey
Hyman
Nylander
Kappa
Brown
leipsic
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Brown is basically the Marlies rallying man. Ready or not, he'll be down there helping lead the Marlies I think.
 
The young players that have the best chance at cracking the Leafs lineup next season would probably be Casey Bailey or Sam Carrick.

If Bozak gets traded that frees up a top 6 or 9 spot, which would open the door for a Brown, Hyman, Kapanen etc.

With that said though, right now this is what I would have:

JVR - Kadri - PAP
Winnik - Bozak - Lupul
Komarov - Holland - Arcobello
Panik - Spaling - Frattin

Make the kids earn their spots in season under their new coaches Babcock/Keefe
 
Stephen said:
Kapanen's scored 4 goals in the AHL, so there's hardly a book on him.

Sounds like he almost made the Penguins as a barely 18 year old skater. Could have had a David Pastrnak type year for all we know.
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He didn't almost make the Pens as an 18 year old.
 
RipCityPuckers said:
The young players that have the best chance at cracking the Leafs lineup next season would probably be Casey Bailey or Sam Carrick.

If Bozak gets traded that frees up a top 6 or 9 spot, which would open the door for a Brown, Hyman, Kapanen etc.

With that said though, right now this is what I would have:

JVR - Kadri - PAP
Winnik - Bozak - Lupul
Komarov - Holland - Arcobello
Panik - Spaling - Frattin

Make the kids earn their spots in season under their new coaches Babcock/Keefe
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I agree with this we need to keep our youngsters off the big club for a year allow them to learn what will be expected from them on the big club from Keefe and allow them to gain stregth and weight during the year
 
RipCityPuckers said:
The young players that have the best chance at cracking the Leafs lineup next season would probably be Casey Bailey or Sam Carrick.

If Bozak gets traded that frees up a top 6 or 9 spot, which would open the door for a Brown, Hyman, Kapanen etc.

With that said though, right now this is what I would have:

JVR - Kadri - PAP
Winnik - Bozak - Lupul
Komarov - Holland - Arcobello
Panik - Spaling - Frattin

Make the kids earn their spots in season under their new coaches Babcock/Keefe
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That roster is a dumpster fire. No way do I want a promising prospect on there in a position to fail.

Give them all another year and then bring up a bunch of them at once who are all ready. Bring them up each year in groups of 2 or 3 so they don't feel the weight of the world on their shoulders.
 
#57 said:
With Komarov recent struggles with the law this is what I'm seeing for the Leafs up front;

JVR-Kadri-PAP
Panik-Bozak-Lupul
Bailey-Arcobello-Holland
Spaling-Winnik-Leipsic
Click to expand...

Komarov is set to stand trial in August, and if found guilty, he will most likely get a fine. Theoretically it is possible to get a jail sentence (depending on the circumstances), but with 99.9% certainty that would be a suspended sentence. He will likely lose his driver's license for a period. Criminal penalties in Finland are really low. He'll be in the lineup by the season puck drop.

EDIT: Unless, of course, he has trouble with his visa after a possible criminal conviction.
 
#57 said:
With Komarov recent struggles with the law this is what I'm seeing for the Leafs up front;

JVR-Kadri-PAP
Panik-Bozak-Lupul
Bailey-Arcobello-Holland
Spaling-Winnik-Leipsic

Bailey and Leipsic are rookies, so those are the two new guys that would make your team. Additionnally, the next forwards in line are realistically Marner, Nylander, Kapanen and Gauthier, so unless Toronto signs more UFAs or promotes some career AHLers, yes Toronto will have a bunch of new rookies in their lineup.
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Panik is a RW and Lupul LW. Holland will be playing center guaranteed. Bozak appears to be on his way out soon, but who knows what happens with him.

Carrick will make it over Bailey and/or Leipsic. He's likely to be the fourth line center while Winnik starts as a winger until depth requires him to play center. Bailey and Leipsic could make the team, but there's also Soshnikov and Hyman to keep an eye on. I doubt Komarov misses much playing time if any due to his recent legal troubles. At most he will miss a part of training camp.

Marner will be back in London barring him completely dominating in training camp, which is possible. Nylander, Kapanen, Brown and the other top forward prospects likely start in the AHL until the next big purge happens, at which point some of them will graduate to the Leafs.
 
A forward with high end scale and committed to playing both sides of the ice? It's obvious why the Leafs wanted to target him.
 
Stephen said:
Seems like you're remembering it wrong:

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/...ays-kapanen-could-crack-opening-night-lineup/

https://twitter.com/penguins/status/515996057516670976
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While it's true that the Penguins said they were considering keeping him, his play didn't really dictate that consideration, so much as 2 wings who can beat a goaltender wasn't perceived to be enough and that his shot might be necessary, whether the rest of his game was ready or not.

You can check threads from the Penguins board from around that time; near-universal consensus was that he was quite a ways away. Sundqvist is the unproven rook most of us were open to keeping.
 
billybudd said:
While it's true that the Penguins said they were considering keeping him, his play didn't really dictate that consideration, so much as 2 wings who can beat a goaltender wasn't perceived to be enough and that his shot might be necessary, whether the rest of his game was ready or not.

You can check threads from the Penguins board from around that time; near-universal consensus was that he was quite a ways away. Sundqvist is the unproven rook most of us were open to keeping.
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Ultimately Kapanen didn't make it, so he wasn't ready. But whatever the condition of the Penguins forward group, he had a good showing in pro camp.
 
Stephen said:
Ultimately Kapanen didn't make it, so he wasn't ready. But whatever the condition of the Penguins forward group, he had a good showing in pro camp.
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He did not. Outside of that one wicked shot, he was a ghost.
 
billybudd said:
He did not. Outside of that one wicked shot, he was a ghost.
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Yeah, no, I think there's a bit of revisionist history going on here.

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/113601/pittsburgh-penguins-possess-newfound-depth-at-forward/

The Penguins possess the most potential at the right wing position, though how much of that potential is realizes remains to be seen. Headlining the group is Kapanen, a Finnish forward who possesses a wicked wrist shot and an extremely high hockey IQ. He needs to get bigger and stronger, but he does not seem too far off from an NHL job following a strong training camp performance. He is currently lighting up the Finnish league with KalPa, and could join the Penguins as soon as this Spring.
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http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articl...guins-prospects-vying-final-nhl-roster-spots/

Forward Kasperi Kapanen might be starting the 2014-15 season in the NHL, so his status as a European prospect could be fleeting. However, if he does not make the NHL roster, Kapanen is expected to return to KalPa for another season.

The 18-year-old is an elusive, skilled player with blazing speed and soft hands in tight. He is a natural right wing, and should eventually slot in comfortably next to superstar centers Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Kapanen is not the biggest player on the ice, but he is already bigger than his dad, Sami Kapanen, a speedy forward who was remarkably durable during his 12-year NHL career. Furthermore, the younger Kapanen oozes hockey sense and is extremely elusive, which allows him to avoid a lot of physical punishment.

If he is returned to Finland, it will not be for long.
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http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2014/10/03/friday-insider/

More to the point right now, Kapanen can step right in on one of the top two lines to take the place vacated — predictably — by Beau Bennett’s latest injury. He has the skill, the awareness and, if anything, he plays as if he’s much more engaged when working alongside good talent.
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I'm just keeping my expectations low on Kapanen and Harrington, and hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

Hoping for a 2nd line winger and bottom 4D (2nd/3rd pairing) along with some good luck with Pittsburgh's 1st.
 
WTFMAN99 said:
I'm just keeping my expectations low on Kapanen and Harrington, and hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

Hoping for a 2nd line winger and bottom 4D (2nd/3rd pairing) along with some good luck with Pittsburgh's 1st.
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Same.

I just get the sense that the moment Pittsburgh shipped him off, he got severely downgraded as a prospect.
 
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