The Edmonton Oilers bolstered their forward depth, claiming Kasperi Kapanen off of waivers on Tuesday. A former first-round pick, Kapanen is a name that many fans will be familiar with. Kapanen has had some good seasons, and his share of big moments throughout his career, but has seen a steady decline in his NHL roles over recent seasons.
Let’s take a closer look at what Kapanen brings to the ice, and how he might fit into the Oilers lineup going forward.
Kapanen’s playing profile
The most notable thing about Kapanen’s game is his speed. The Oilers, by many estimations, do seem to be a bit slower of a team this season. On a simple level Kapanen is an infusion of that trait that might fit into the mix for bottom six minutes. On an even simpler level, the Oilers now have 12 healthy forwards on their roster, missing Viktor Arvidsson. For now he will get a shot in the lineup. Of course, the onus will be on Kapanen to carve out a longer term role for himself by using that skating ability to his advantage.
At his best Kapanen has been able to do so. Kapanen can get it on the forecheck, or close gaps when backchecking. While not known for his physicality or defensive prowess, Kapanen has the skating and speed to contribute in these areas regardless. For a coach, getting the most out of Kapanen will be about embracing the requisite role. Kapanen has puck skills, and was once a 20-goal scorer, but at this point his offensive game is no longer what will keep him in the lineup. Instead, it will be intensity and intention, a willingness to battle in defence of every inch of ice.
The crux of getting minutes on this Oilers team will be if Kapanen can grab hold of a regular penalty killing role. Kapanen has been in and out of penalty killing roles as he has bounced around the league, and the Oilers could certainly use a spark in that area. Again, the importance of embracing a role is key to success, but there is upside. In particular, Kapanen is able to pressure opponents with his speed, and can even counterattack as a penalty killer. In a strange sense this does have some synergy with Kapanen’s offensive game. While there are skills to work with, Kapanen is rarely able to get the most out of his linemates. Off the rush Kapanen can create and convert, especially as an individual.
Where Kapanen could fit in the lineup
The initial spot for Kapanen is somewhat beneficial. Expected to slide onto a fourth line alongside Derek Ryan and Corey Perry, his prospective linemates contribute in some ways that Kapanen does not. Ryan will play conductor, helping to control possession and offering quick support passes. Perry provides some muscle, a force who can win in tight areas. As a trio they have a lot of tools to work with, and some synergy might be possible.
This is a reflection of the Oilers depth and the current circumstances. The Oilers tried some call up options already this season. While Noah Philp might have another chance down the road, for now he is best served adding to his resume. Despite being near NHL ready and 25 years of age, Philp has relatively little professional experience. Allowing him a long stretch of undisturbed playing time is still valuable. It is likely that the Oilers do not feel very confident in the options beyond Philp, as Drake Caggiula got into a couple games as well. With Roby Jarventie just returning from injury and Matthew Savoie still developing, the Oilers were clearly looking for a more experienced option, allowing their younger players to make the NHL on their own terms.
Perhaps Kapanen could play himself up the lineup, though fans should not be expecting him to upgrade the top nine. The best hope might be that he provides a short term boost amidst injuries. At this point Kapanen’s best chance to move up the lineup would be to wrestle a spot on Adam Henrique’s line from Mattias Janmark. The Oilers offence has been lacklustre, with the forwards beyond Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl underwhelming.
In fact, after McDavid and Draisaitl the Oilers next three leading scorers are all defencemen. While it is no surprise to see Evan Bouchard in this area, Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse should not be outpacing the likes of Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, let alone Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner.
To an extent Adam Henrique might be in this boat, though having Connor Brown and Mattias Jarnmark as linemates is not exactly getting the most out of Henrique’s scoring talents. Kapanen is not necessarily an upgrade on Brown or Janmark, but does at least offer Coach Kris Knoblauch a chance to give a jolt to the lineup every now and then. In the end, a line with Perry might be better for Kapanen’s offence than with Brown, though Kapanen and Brown might have some residual chemistry from their time together as Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kapanen is a needed buffer between the Oilers depth and their prospects. This move could pay off in the short term if Kapanen can contribute on the penalty kill, but the hope is also that their prospects are able to benefit from time and patience.
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