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Toronto Maple Leafs: Kasperi Kapanen Not Fit on Tavares Line?

By Nick Barden

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 23: Kasperi Kapanen #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 23: Kasperi Kapanen #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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It has only been two games, yet the Toronto Maple Leafs have shown dominance, and some irresponsibility in their play.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are 2-0, which is usually how the team likes to start their season. Come into the first few games hot and then, start to regress a little bit.

While I’ve been watching, the Maple Leafs have looked great – Mitch Marner has been flying and making plays, Auston Matthews is using his rocket-like wrist shot to score and our captain, John Tavares shows his usual dominance.

With Marner and Tavares playing so well, Kasperi Kapanen doesn’t seem to be a fit with the two star players.

Last season, he played alongside Matthews for most of the year. Coming into this year, Kapanen knew his role with the team would be different.

On Matthews’ wing, Kapanen was more of a shooter; come down the wing and fire it on net type. This year, he’s filling in for Zach Hyman and trying to fit his role – it just doesn’t suit him.

Kapanen definitely has the dump and chase mode in him, but I don’t think he fights for the puck like Hyman can. Hyman is like a dog wanting his ball;  he just won’t stop until he gets the puck back.

Is there time for Kapanen to fit in?

It’s only been two games, there’s lots of time for Kapanen to get in there and play like Hyman can. In fact, this opinion is definitely a little premature.

The first game was decent for the Leafs winger, while in the second game, he looked invisible. There was reason for that – he blocked a shot.

There’s a lot more time for Kapanen to fit into his role alongside Tavares and Marner. The timeline for Hyman to return is likely 15 games, which is a boatload of time for Kapanen.

He just has to find the puck more. The winger isn’t standing out too much and with his speed being a key factor to the player he is, we should see a lot more from him. The stride is the only part of his game he needs to find, and I’m confident he’ll find it.

It’s a new look for him – being on a different line, with teammates he’s never played with before. But it’s a new role that’s worth getting used to. If Kapanen can get back up to speed, his return to the third line will be that more exciting.

Next. John Tavares Is the Right Choice to Captain the Toronto Maple Leafs. dark

Right now, it’s too early to tell whether or not Kapanen fits in. Two games, a blocked shot (which definitely hurt) and a different role. There’s time for the young forward to figure it out and he’ll be just fine.

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