Kupari is still a mystery to me. Here’s what Dillman and Wheeler had to say in the Athletic with regards to comparable players:
Rasmus Kupari
High-end comparable: Shorter Pavel Buchnevich
Low-end comparable: Filip Chytil
Wheeler’s take: Kupari is a bit of an antithesis to the modern NHL player. Even as the game becomes more and more of a track meet, the players who fit inside it are increasingly built to play a small area east-west game. Kupari is much more of a north-south player, using his speed to play in transition. He’s got a decent shot, so he can score in that role. He’s got decent hands, so he can play in tight if he has to. And he can definitely identify his linemates and get them the puck. But he’s less effective inside the offensive zone than many of his peers these days. Chytil and Buchnevich have found a nice niche playing that style of game as middle-six options, though I think Chytil is more of a third-line player than a second-line one, like Buchnevich has proven to be. Kupari has a chance to be a 40-to-50 point player while offering something a little different to a lineup. He’s not going to be a star though.
Dillman’s take: Kupari suffered a left knee injury — a torn ACL that required surgery — in Finland’s opening game at the world juniors. Kupari played in 27 games with the Ontario Reign, and had six goals and two assists. His first season in North America was marked by the inconsistency you might expect from a teenager. Kupari turned 20 on March 15. The coaches don’t want to stifle Kupari’s creativity but need him to realize there is a time and place for it.
“I thought he was good, and I think there was more there,” Stothers said. “He was a guy who has all kinds of ability, all kinds of talent. He was able to get by on that skill and talent at his age bracket. I see a guy that’s got great hands, great stick, a powerful skater and a nose for the net. I think he’s capable of making more plays than he did. He was a little bit guilty with us of trying to take the game on one-on-one.”
