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

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I was so happy when I saw Kasperi scoring it. He had gotten so much crap on Finnish hockey forums for not being able to bring his best offensively in last year's and this year's tournaments although unlike last year this year he was really dominant player without the puck so it's not like he was a useles player at any point in this tournament.

What a finish!
 
One thing I forgot to mention about Kapanen in my posts in the earlier page was his physicality and play away from the puck. I was surprised to see him lay out hits in the offensive zone as he doesn't seem like a player that likes to play physical, but I was impressed with how he was willing to play the body and go heavy on the forecheck. His forechecking was pretty good throughout the tournament, definitely an improvement from last year.
Still when playing without the puck he needs to try to get himself more open (or draw people to him to make others open for a play). His vision is good, but lacks in the ability to predict plays and realize what's about to happen. His energy, speed and hustle to get to the puck do make up for some of that though. Sets himself up for scoring chances on the PP extremely well.

I haven't really watched Marlies games so I don't know he has faired in these areas of the game before the tournament but progression from last years WJC has happened.
 
Kasperi showed throughout the WJC tremendous work ethic without much points to show for it. I've not been a great fan of Kasperi and I must admit that I was not expecting anything from him before the WJC. Fortunately, he proved me wrong by his work ethic and the flashes of brilliance he's shown with his soft hands as well as defensive awareness throughout the WJC.

I went to see two games at the WJC and you could really tell that Kasperi was frustrated when he was unable to score when opportunities arose. Though he kept on going working hard in both sides of the rink and was finally awarded with that OT goal against Russia. I hope Kasperi can take his success from the WJC with him to the Marlies and develop into a servicable NHL player someday.
 
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Combat Koala said:
One thing I forgot to mention about Kapanen in my posts in the earlier page was his physicality and play away from the puck. I was surprised to see him lay out hits in the offensive zone as he doesn't seem like a player that likes to play physical, but I was impressed with how he was willing to play the body and go heavy on the forecheck. His forechecking was pretty good throughout the tournament, definitely an improvement from last year.
Still when playing without the puck he needs to try to get himself more open (or draw people to him to make others open for a play). His vision is good, but lacks in the ability to predict plays and realize what's about to happen. His energy, speed and hustle to get to the puck do make up for some of that though. Sets himself up for scoring chances on the PP extremely well.

I haven't really watched Marlies games so I don't know he has faired in these areas of the game before the tournament but progression from last years WJC has happened.
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This is exactly why I will guarantee he will be an NHL player. How good of a player though, that's up to Kapanen.

Players with that speed, that talent and type of commitment to defence are guaranteed to play in the NHL.

I'd be happy if he became a 20-20 guy that played solid 200ft hockey, those players are very valuable. If he ever becomes that 25-25+ player though, what a piece that would be.
 
X66 said:
This is exactly why I will guarantee he will be an NHL player. How good of a player though, that's up to Kapanen.

Players with that speed, that talent and type of commitment to defence are guaranteed to play in the NHL.

I'd be happy if he became a 20-20 guy that played solid 200ft hockey, those players are very valuable. If he ever becomes that 25-25+ player though, what a piece that would be.
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I agree. It seems like he has a future as a skilled bottom-6 player in the NHL if he doesn't pan out offensively.
 
behemolari said:
claims at the interview he has never done wrap-around goal before, definitely didn't look like that.
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Maybe he meant in international play? I find it very hard to believe that in all his years of hockey at all levels he's never done a single wrap-around goal before.
 
X66 said:
This is exactly why I will guarantee he will be an NHL player. How good of a player though, that's up to Kapanen.

Players with that speed, that talent and type of commitment to defence are guaranteed to play in the NHL.

I'd be happy if he became a 20-20 guy that played solid 200ft hockey, those players are very valuable. If he ever becomes that 25-25+ player though, what a piece that would be.
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I definitely think he will become a NHL'er. As you said, it's up to him if he wants to become a quality player. I'd love to predict that he will become a 2nd line winger with the skills he has, but he really needs to step up in some areas of the game if he ever wants to be that good.
 
Combat Koala said:
I definitely think he will become a NHL'er. As you said, it's up to him if he wants to become a quality player. I'd love to predict that he will become a 2nd line winger with the skills he has, but he really needs to step up in some areas of the game if he ever wants to be that good.
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I agree, it's all up to him. I want him to be like a Nik Hagman +

Hagman didn't have the offensive gifts Kap did, but I want Kap to be as driven like Hagman while playing the same style(200ft).
 
Looking forward to seeing him back with the Marlies. Should be coming back with plenty of confidence, would love to see him start scoring at a higher rate, not that there's anything wrong with the rate of scoring he's putting up now.
 
Yup next year he's going to be one of "the guys" on the Marlies next year

Sometimes I forget he's still 19 and kind of buried behind insane depth on the Marlies.
 
WilliamNylander said:
Yup next year he's going to be one of "the guys" on the Marlies next year

Sometimes I forget he's still 19 and kind of buried behind insane depth on the Marlies.
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When Brown is back - this team will be even more fun to watch. Lots of youth and potential NHLers; good to see. May need to mix in a few games.

Leivo-Nylander-Brown
Morin-Leipsic-Kapanen
Soshnikov-Carrick-Frattin
Clune-Gauthier-Hyman
 
Kapanen absolutely doesn't have a commitment to playing team defense. He floats around on defense and is always situated terribly even if he is hustling. Its going to be 100% up to his offensive upside if he wants a long NHL career..
 
A frustrating player to watch. Good hands, some grit, great skating but zero vision and hockey IQ. He is trying hard but he keeps making wrong decisions, he is far from guaranteed NHL:er.
 
toewsintangibles said:
Kapanen absolutely doesn't have a commitment to playing team defense. He floats around on defense and is always situated terribly even if he is hustling. Its going to be 100% up to his offensive upside if he wants a long NHL career..
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That's why Jalonen kept using him on a important situation on the defensive zone while defending the lead. :laugh:
Wasn't you one of the Kapanen haters and now that you don't have anything to bash him about you start making things up?
 
toewsintangibles said:
Kapanen absolutely doesn't have a commitment to playing team defense. He floats around on defense and is always situated terribly even if he is hustling. Its going to be 100% up to his offensive upside if he wants a long NHL career..
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He'll never be a elite 2-way player but that's not his M.O to begin with. A 200 foot game is dependent on team system/coaching and of less importance to a winger (comparatively), who's primary goal is to score anyways.

His career as a NHLer was always going to be Top 6 or bust anyways so you preaching to the choir there.

Can't really take much stock into his WJC performance but he does look like he has the ability to play at a high speed which fare well as it translates to the NHL.
 
I like his play style better on the smaller ice surface, where it becomes much more noticeable that he plays a "pro-style" sort of game. He's got a great shot, and the rest of his game has really picked up playing under Sheldon Keefe with the Marlies. I really don't see where the stuff about his lack of vision/IQ comes from, he's no Gaudreau but he does just fine setting up his teammates from time to time or making short passes to keep up the tempo of the game.

He's going to need another season or 2 at the AHL level before he transitions to the NHL, but he's still only a 19 year old kid. Plenty of time to go
 
I always hate these "He'll never commit to play defense, never be a two way player" comments for young guys. It's hard to teach skill. It's hard to teach hockey sense/vision. Skating can be improved, but it's hard to make a bad skater a good skater. Shooting can be improved, but it's hard to make a bad shooter into a sniper.

Having a forward learn to play defense and be a better 2 way player is probably the easiest thing to teach. Of course they have to want to do it, but that's what coaching is for. Yzerman learned it (much to his chagrin at first)..heck, even Skinner is learning it, so if Kapanen doesn't have that aspect now, it doesn't mean he'll never have it.
 
toewsintangibles said:
Kapanen absolutely doesn't have a commitment to playing team defense. He floats around on defense and is always situated terribly even if he is hustling. Its going to be 100% up to his offensive upside if he wants a long NHL career..
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Your right both he and Nylander are Kessel clones, one zone guys.
 
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