Toronto Maple Leafs: Play Kapanen Higher in the Lineup
At the end of last season, Kasperi Kapanen all but solidified his spot on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After putting up a point-per-game in the AHL at the age of 20, there was little left to prove in the minors. Kapanen was called up by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With eight games left in the regular season, Kapanen scored one goal playing right wing on the Leafs’ fourth line. Not mind-blowing, but his speed, skills, and two-way play show more than the stat sheet did. During the playoffs, he truly began to shine.
Kapanen has shown enough to be considered almost a shoe-in for the main Leafs roster this fall. The question is “What line will he play on?”
The Fourth Line
It’s early to jump to conclusions, but I am of the opinion that Kapanen shouldn’t be playing fourth line minutes. Matt Martin and Dominic Moore are not out there to put up points. Playing Kapanen with them is a waste of his offensive skills. Young players need minutes.
Kadri Line
One of the Toronto Maple Leafs most common lines last year was Leo Komarov, Nazem Kadri, and Connor Brown. Brown is still a restricted free agent, but Kapanen is nice fit there if that remains the case.
Kapanen’s speed and Komarov’s physicality compliment each other well on the forecheck. Kadri’s soft hands and play-making ability also fits with Kapanen’s shot from afar and stick-handling in tight around the net. Playing with two defensively responsible veterans that also have some skill is great for a young player.
If Brown returns to his spot on the third line, Babcock can always move Kapanen up and place Komarov on the fourth line. Komarov can play centre or wing in case of injury. Martin and Komarov together driving the other team nuts? Hilarity ensues.
The Van Riemsdyk Line
James Van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, and Mitch Marner make up another of the Leafs scoring lines. If one or both of JVR and Bozak are traded like some rumours suggest, this looks interesting.
Marner isn’t likely moving from the right wing position on that line. He’s the straw that stirs the drink there. If JVR goes, giving Kapanen a shot playing left wing is an option.
He’s already superior to JVR (and likely every forward on the team save Komarov) defensively. Playing the secondary defence match-ups that the Bozak line often does also makes it a bit easier for Kapanen to develop his scoring touch at the NHL level.
Don’t act like you don’t want to see Nylander and Kapanen play on a line together if Bozak goes.
The First Line
Let’s get this part out the way- Whomever Auston Matthews plays with looks great because he’s playing with Auston Matthews.
Matthews and Nylander do play great together, but Hyman shouldn’t be playing with them.
The Toronto Maple Leafs signing Patrick Marleau makes it almost certain that he’s replacing Hyman, JVR, or Komarov on the left side. That hasn’t happened yet. Either way, Marleau can play any forward position depending on the line he plays with.
Perhaps you play Kapanen in Hyman’s spot. He uses his speed to get to pucks first like Hyman does, only he has the hands to make plays Hyman can’t. Move him to right side if Nylander moves to centre the second line due to a trade or injury.
In Closing…
Looking at all the reasons and hypotheticals above, I’d put Kapanen on the second or third line. Playing significant minutes against secondary defence pairings alongside more skilled forwards makes sense. It’s better for him to develop offensively while still playing with some “200-foot” players.
Next: Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable
Too many forwards still remain on the Leafs roster. Roster moves or not, Kapanen playing with skill for more than ten minutes a game is preferable. There’s little reason to dress him otherwise.