Toronto Maple Leafs Recall Kasperi Kapanen

The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Kasperi Kapenen.

And, after clearing waivers, Eric Fehr has been sent to the Toronto Marlies. The move instantly makes the Toronto Maple Leafs a better team.  Acquired in the Phil Kessel trade, Kapanen is a 21 year old AHL-Point-per-Game winger with no business being in the AHL any longer.

When training camp broke, it was strange that the Leafs cut Kapanen.  Last spring, in the playoffs against the Capitals, he showed beyond any doubt that he was an NHL player.  Not only did he score an amazing double overtime goal, but he also plays a solid defensive game.

In fact, Kapanen is arguably the Leafs second best defensive forward after Leo Komarov.  He is also probably the fastest skater on the team.   The Leafs cut him, ostensibly to take time to decide between Moore and Fehr, but now he’s back.

We can only hope he actually gets into the lineup.

Kasperi Kapanen

The Leafs have allowed five or more goals in four of their ten games so far this season.  Andersen hasn’t been the best, but neither has the defense in front of him.  Part of the problem for the Leafs is that their team defense is not very good.  Specifically, the forwards.

Players like Marleau, JVR, and Bozak have almost not defensive skills. Nylander and Marner aren’t exactly Selke players either, but they can make up for it by driving play with their speed.  Still, over half of their top nine forwards are objectively terrible at defense.

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This means that they need Kasperi Kapanen and they need him higher in the lineup than the fourth line.  unfortunately, the Toronto Maple Leafs already have too many wingers, so who knows if he’ll even get in the lineup?

Josh Lievo is already not playing.  Mitch Marner is on the fourth line in what has to be one of the most ridiculous lineup decisions in the history of professional sports.  Where exactly is Kasperi Kapanen supposed to play?

It is clear that the Leafs have too many players. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, but one thing is clear: the team has trouble defensively and has been intentionally sidelining one of its best defensive forwards.  Obviously that doesn’t even make any sense, so something has to change.

Next: Andersen Better than You Think!

Regardless of what happens, the Leafs are a faster, more dynamic, better scoring and better defensive team with Kasperi Kapanen in the lineup.  It speaks volumes about the quality of their roster that, until now, he wasn’t in the NHL and they were still winning most of their games.

all stats from corsica.hockey and naturalstattrick.com