TSN: Carolina interested in Kapanen

[lebdafor norris]

There's a reason that Kapanen doesn't play on the PP. The biggest thing that makes him effective is his speed. He's the ultimate "counterpunch" player -- catch the D sleeping and he's on a breakaway. On the PP, you don't get to catch defenders sleeping, they're sitting back waiting.

That being said, I think it would be a worthwhile experiment to see what he could do in Kadri's spot on the PP. His speed would likely help with zone entries and obtaining possession, and Kadri's only real job in that spot is to try and get a defender to focus on him.

Kapanen's speed, skill and shot would have still made him a better option than Ennis, Leivo and arguably Marleau and Johnsson as well. I really feel like Babcock wants him to develop his PK for now instead of worrying about the PP. Nylander, Matthews, Marner (who surprisingly is actually getting around half the PK time Kapanen is getting) and even Johnsson were never a candidate of becoming prime PK forwards like what Kapanen is doing right now, so the Babs never gave them the treatment he gave Reilly and is now giving to Kapanen.

 

[Roboturner913]

He's #5 on the team in TOI this year (very close to #4), and #5 in EVTOI (nearly a minute less than de Haan). He gets no PP time, and leads the team in SHTOI.

His TOI numbers suggest that he's being used as a #5, who is their PK specialist.

The flaws in this argument are so obvious, I'm kind of surprised you even posted it, honestly.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

There's a reason that Kapanen doesn't play on the PP. The biggest thing that makes him effective is his speed. He's the ultimate "counterpunch" player -- catch the D sleeping and he's on a breakaway. On the PP, you don't get to catch defenders sleeping, they're sitting back waiting.

That being said, I think it would be a worthwhile experiment to see what he could do in Kadri's spot on the PP. His speed would likely help with zone entries and obtaining possession, and Kadri's only real job in that spot is to try and get a defender to focus on him.

First of all, being able to speed into the zone and set the powerplay up is still pretty useful. Secondly, Kapanen has a good shot, good hands, and is great around the net. The reason he doesn't play on the powerplay is Babcock likes his players to either kill penalties or play on the powerplay, and Kapanen is one of the Leafs' better penalty killers.

 

[Jerkob Slavin]

And all the while no PP time, an excellent penalty killer and defensive forward. Garbage I tell you, garbage!

No, he’s not garbage. He’s just not what we need. Go ahead and throw a several more million (that you don’t have) at the guy. We’ll happily keep our guys and continue to draft and develop. We’ll get BACK to the promised land without tanking for a generational talent.

 

[biotk]

There's a reason that Kapanen doesn't play on the PP.

That reason is that Babs plays forwards regularly on either the PP or the PK - not both.

 

[Cor]

No, he’s not garbage. He’s just not what we need. Go ahead and throw a several more million (that you don’t have) at the guy. We’ll happily keep our guys and continue to draft and develop. We’ll get BACK to the promised land without tanking for a generational talent.

Kapanen would be your best forward currently not named Aho.


Also, getting Matthews isn’t something you can shake Toronto for

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

No, he’s not garbage. He’s just not what we need. Go ahead and throw a several more million (that you don’t have) at the guy. We’ll happily keep our guys and continue to draft and develop. We’ll get BACK to the promised land without tanking for a generational talent.

what does Carolina need if not skilled young offensive talent? Kapanen has more 5v5 goals and points than anyone on the Hurricanes

 

[Jerkob Slavin]

Kapanen would be your best forward currently not named Aho.


Also, getting Matthews isn’t something you can shake Toronto for

So you would trade Svechnikov for Kapanen? Better take those homer glasses off before answering....

 

[Atomos2]

Watch the video in the OP. The Canes released nothing to the media. LeBrun states that he “believes the Canes have also discussed Kapanen internally.”

Which is just about the most vague statement one could possibly give in this TSN Leafs puff piece. No duh the Canes have discussed Kapanen internally. They have probably discussed Connor Brown internally too. They get paid to discuss trade targets internally. That is their job.

So what exactly are you trying to argue? A TSN insider believes Canes have discussed Kapanen and that is enough to give you the sense they are not interested in him?

Lebrun didn't say they discussed Connor Brown. He said they discussed Kapanen. KAPANEN. The fact that they brought his name up in discussions. The fact that a legit TSN insider brought it up on live television. Is all that telling you that the Canes are NOT interested? You're literally arguing against Lebrun with nothing but baseless conjecture.

Like I said. Denial.

 

[Cor]

So you would trade Svechnikov for Kapanen? Better take those homer glasses off before answering....

best forward CURRENTLY

Svechnikov will be better soon, maybe even by the end of the year, but Kapanen has been better this season.

 

[Takasugi]

No, he’s not garbage. He’s just not what we need. Go ahead and throw a several more million (that you don’t have) at the guy. We’ll happily keep our guys and continue to draft and develop. We’ll get BACK to the promised land without tanking for a generational talent.

Tbh carolina would be in a way better position if they had just tanked for matthews. Too bad too sad for them that they didnt... They look like a garbage team about to miss the playoffs for the 10th time is it?

 

[Jerkob Slavin]

what does Carolina need if not skilled young offensive talent? Kapanen has more 5v5 goals and points than anyone on the Hurricanes

Time. Svechnikov looks better every game and HCRBA is rewarding him with more ice time and responsibility. He is looking like a dangerous player and a game changer. This isn’t a stretch... he was a #2 overall pick and should be an impact player. He just needs some time.

Necas needed a little more seasoning to get used to North American ice and was sent to Charlotte. By all accounts, he won’t be there long. He was recently named the AHL player of the week (7 assists) and has 21 points in 25 games after a slow start. If Carolina is in the hunt, he may be asked to join the big club. If not, we may save a year on his ELC and bring him up next season.

We also need goaltending, which will hopefully be addressed next offseason.

Some Canes fans might say we need better coaching as well.

Mostly we just need time.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Tbh carolina would be in a way better position if they had just tanked for matthews. Too bad too sad for them that they didnt... They look like a garbage team about to miss the playoffs for the 10th time is it?

I mean, if that’s the road you want to walk down, Carolina is a garbage team that’s won a Stanley Cup more recently than Toronto has won a playoff series.

 

[Jerkob Slavin]

Tbh carolina would be in a way better position if they had just tanked for matthews. Too bad too sad for them that they didnt... They look like a garbage team about to miss the playoffs for the 10th time is it?

We’ve got a few holes, but there are a lot of positives. Aho is a stud. Svechnikov will be a stud. Our defense is the envy of most of the league. We’ve got tons of cap space and a new owner (who may have shortcomings, but is MILES better than Karmanos). We’ve been MUCH worse off in the past, and in those days there was little hope as Rutherford did not subscribe to “draft and develop.”

...and we could miss the playoffs 10 more seasons for all I care. Perhaps it’s karmic debt from 2006? I know I’ll always remember that run.

 

[Jerkob Slavin]

best forward CURRENTLY

Svechnikov will be better soon, maybe even by the end of the year, but Kapanen has been better this season.

Kapanen started stronger, but I’d probably say they are close to a wash right now. Svech has had a very strong month of December. The lights are coming on. He looks beastly. He could regress, which would change my opinion. But he is fun to watch right now.

 

[HOTD]

We’ve got a few holes, but there are a lot of positives. Aho is a stud. Svechnikov will be a stud. Our defense is the envy of most of the league. We’ve got tons of cap space and a new owner (who may have shortcomings, but is MILES better than Karmanos). We’ve been MUCH worse off in the past, and in those days there was little hope as Rutherford did not subscribe to “draft and develop.”

...and we could miss the playoffs 10 more seasons for all I care. Perhaps it’s karmic debt from 2006? I know I’ll always remember that run.

Yet they have the same GA as the Leafs terrible defence, and on a recent skid.

 

[Jerkob Slavin]

Yet they have the same GA as the Leafs terrible defence, and on a recent skid.

LOL. Which team has the better roster top to bottom? Which team has the better goalie? Hint: it ain’t the Canes.

If our GA numbers are similar with all factors considered, then you have to admit Carolina’s defense is the reason.

 

[zeke]

Kapanen played at a ~20 goal, 41 point pace with Kadri. Likely the player he is away from Matthews.

...at even strength, which is 1st line caliber.

and which is much better than pesce has looked away from Slavin.

 

[zeke]

Is evaluating Kapanen’s scoring when he doesn’t have one of the best players in the world dishing him passes really considered “cherry picking?” Maybe for you, but given that the Canes don’t have a Matthews that analysis seems pretty important to Canes fans.

Or maybe you just don’t like the conclusion that Kapanen only put up 7 points in 14 games while Matthews was injured?

In any case, I don’t really care about Pesce’s relative high Danger blah blah blah away from Slavin. Pesce is playing with Slavin right now on the top pair and he looks great. I doubt the Canes are eager to blow that up for a middle-6 winger.

so you care what kappy does without Matthews but not what pesce does without Slavin.

well, at least you're proving that it's not the leafs fans in this thread using double standards and ignoring reality.

 

[zeke]

If ifs and buts were candies and nuts we would all have a merry Christmas.

Are you telling us that Bozak circa last year was more deserving of PP time than Kapanen is this year? I’m sure Bozak could be had pretty cheaply.

Not all middle-6 wingers are entitled to top PP time. I’m not sure that is a very strong argument. Maybe Babcock isn’t wrong here?

your entire argument is Ifs and Buts.

because kappy is producing at a 30gl/55pt pace.

 

[zeke]

There's a reason that Kapanen doesn't play on the PP. The biggest thing that makes him effective is his speed. He's the ultimate "counterpunch" player -- catch the D sleeping and he's on a breakaway. On the PP, you don't get to catch defenders sleeping, they're sitting back waiting.

That being said, I think it would be a worthwhile experiment to see what he could do in Kadri's spot on the PP. His speed would likely help with zone entries and obtaining possession, and Kadri's only real job in that spot is to try and get a defender to focus on him.

he's too fast to play the PP?

that's what you're going with?

 

[LABound]

More like:

Kap for Slavin = no chance of that happening. Duh.
Kap for Pesce = about right
Kap for Faulk = no interest in Faulk

Strange that I posted this exact thing months ago and got schoolyarded by a bunch of canes fans ?

Ive been bang on at about a 90% clip for a couple years.


It's ok I don't need reassurance.

 

[Chan790]

and dubas responded to that bait by asking for Slavin.

Which is ludicrous. Waddell and Dubas must be having some interesting negotiations as they both ridiculously overvalue their own guys.

 

[Brock Radunske]

If the Canes are trading Pesce then they are looking for a similar piece. A U25 top-6 C who can play the 1st line and has a good contract for 5+ years.

Best of luck with that...

 

[Brock Radunske]

He's #5 on the team in TOI this year (very close to #4), and #5 in EVTOI (nearly a minute less than de Haan). He gets no PP time, and leads the team in SHTOI.

His TOI numbers suggest that he's being used as a #5, who is their PK specialist.

His actual usage has been up and down the lineup from the 1st pair to the 3rd.

Last year, he was 3rd in TOI and EVTOI, with similar heavy usage on the PK.. The Canes didn't hav De Haan or Hamilton, and they weren't very good defensively.

Personally, as a Leaf fan, my belief is that he's somewhere between a #3 and #4 right now, and his long term upside is that of a high quality #3 (he doesn't possess the offensive game to be a #2).... however, I can certainly see the argument for considering him a true #4 right now. In Carolina, the big minutes have consistently gone to Slavin, and whomever is along for the ride.

I was told he was a top-pairing RHD and will return under-25 top-6 centre with #1C upside. Weird.