Toronto Maple Leafs Must Find Room for Kapanen
The Toronto Maple Leafs have too many wingers for too few roster spots.
But no matter how it shakes down, the Toronto Maple Leafs must find a spot for Kasperi Kapanen. And not on the fourth line, and not as an extra.
Kasperi Kapanen deserves to be in the NHL, and on one of the first three lines. Preferably on the right side of Auston Matthews with William Nylander playing centre on a different line.
Kapanen was acquired in the Phil Kessel trade, which just keeps on giving, and has acquitted himself admirably whenever given NHL minutes.
To date, in 17 career NHL games, Kapanen has just one point, but that is misleading. He has posted a CF% of over 50% and has contributed defensively by lowering the Toronto Maple Leafs shots allowed per sixty-minutes whenever he’s been on the ice.
In the Playoffs, Kapanen scored twice in six games, including an incredible double-overtime goal. A goal so amazing that it caused Joe Bowen to blow out his vocal chords (one assumes).
Toronto Maple Leafs Best Prospect
Until he becomes a regular in the Leafs lineup, which should be in the first game of the season, Kasperi Kapanen is the Leafs top prospect. He is NHL ready and projects to be an above average player, possibly even a star.
He combines offensive ability, speed and finesse with grit and defensive awareness at a level that is surprisingly rare in the NHL. Other than the Sabres, no one allowed more shots against last season than the Leafs.
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This an area where Kapanen is sure to help, and the #1 reason that he can’t be left off the team any longer. Other than Leo Komarov, the Leafs don’t have any defensive forwards better than Kapanen. That alone should put him on the team. Also, he is probably the team’s fastest skater (possible exception to Marleau).
Furthermore, with Patrick Marleau now signed and looking for a place to play, Kapanen makes even more sense. If Babcock wants to play Marleau with Matthews, then Kapanen is the logical right winger to fill out the combo and add defensive awareness. Certainly the Marleau-Matthews-Nylander combo everyone talks about is a defensive nightmare that won’t work outside of an EA Sports game.
If Brown stays with Matthews, then Kapanen is a likely candidate to play opposite Marleau and balance his shady defensive contributions. Basically, the Leafs have three quality defensive wingers (Hyman, Kapanen and Komarov) and each should be on a line of his own to help create balance.
Conclusion
Kapanen is 21 and has already averaged a point-per-game in the AHL. He has shown he can be an effective defensive contributor in the NHL, and has playoff experience.
Next: Upgrade Kapanen's Status to Untouchable
He has offensive and defensive tools that remind one of a young Marian Hossa. Obviously, that’s high-praise and no one is saying Kapanen will have that kind of career. But that is an obvious comparison to make, and the Leafs have to get him into the lineup, at all costs.