News Article: Kasperi Kapanen Discussion

[DarkKnight]

I don’t think that there is a rift. I do think that there’s a part of him that thinks that he could have been the C.

Yes leaders feel they are leaders. Like that’s a bad thing.

 

[Critical13]

I think Kap has fallen down our winger depth chart:

Marner
Nylander
Hyman
Johnsson
Mik
Moore

With Tima, Korshkov, Engvall and possibly Bracco all knocking.

Writing is on the wall IMO. I bet he’s moved to open cap space for Mik and Hymans next deals.

Maybe we use his cap space this year to get a backup goalie and a 6th D so Sandin can stick in the AHL.

 

[Nithoniniel]

Kapanen has looked fine or good for a while now. Even before he switched lines, he looked more than fine individually.

Yes leaders feel they are leaders. Like that’s a bad thing.

I get what you're saying, but I think good leaders focus on doing just that rather than whether they get symbolic recognition for it. Being captain should be a burden you take on if you're deemed the best choice, not something you desire for your own sake.

 

[DarkKnight]

Kapanen has looked fine or good for a while now. Even before he switched lines, he looked more than fine individually.


I get what you're saying, but I think good leaders focus on doing just that rather than whether they get symbolic recognition for it. Being captain should be a burden you take on if you're deemed the best choice, not something you desire for your own sake.

Sure, I’m just not criticizing someone for having the internal drive to think they’re a leader. I would hope Reilly, Matthews, Marner all thought they had C traits.

 

[Boutette]

I think Kap has fallen down our winger depth chart:

Marner
Nylander
Hyman
Johnsson
Mik
Moore

With Tima, Korshkov, Engvall and possibly Bracco all knocking.

Writing is on the wall IMO. I bet he’s moved to open cap space for Mik and Hymans next deals.

Maybe we use his cap space this year to get a backup goalie and a 6th D so Sandin can stick in the AHL.

Its certainly a good problem to have, but I think Nylander would be a the more logical piece to move as he's not that much more useful than Kap and moving him frees double the cap hit (and Kap is still a RFA at the end of his contract).

 

[Menzinger]

Its certainly a good problem to have, but I think Nylander would be a the more logical piece to move as he's not that much more useful than Kap and moving him frees double the cap hit (and Kap is still a RFA at the end of his contract).

Not exact true though is it..nylander has the higher offensive skillset and has chemistry within the Leafs top two lines.

Kapenens hockey iq is lower and he clearly hasn't been able to sustain chemistey playing alongside Matthew's or Tavares/Marner.

It is a good problem though- no argument there

 

[Boutette]

Not exact true though is it..nylander has the higher offensive skillset and has chemistry within the Leafs top two lines.

Kapenens hockey iq is lower and he clearly hasn't been able to sustain chemistey playing alongside Matthew's or Tavares/Marner.

It is a good problem though- no argument there

They both have managed the same amount of points so far this year. Chemistry or not Nylander isn't really producing, and chemistry or not, looking flashy doesn't matter if you aren't producing more than those supposedly below you in the depth chart. Kappy is also more versatile defensively, and Nylander has greater trade value. The important thing is that they both have value, though, i will agree.

 

[ULF_55]

Seems to have a pretty good shot when he takes it.

 

[mapleleaf979]

MY thoughts on Kapanen?

Lowest hockey IQ in the Top 9 on this team, see his odd man breakaway decisions, he is not fouling anyone. I can not recall him ever surprising me with a decision he made nor have I seen the opposition fouled much at all by him. Top 1% speed in the NHL but can not carry the puck at full speed. The amount of times he bobbles pucks at speed is crazy. He is having a very average season so far. Its a toss up who id move between Kapanen and Johnnson for different reason. Johnnson has better IQ, puck hunger, accurate shot, but imo is a few hits away from taking the tenacity out of him aka not convinced he will have a long NHL career.

 

[Martin Skoula]

MY thoughts on Kapanen?

Lowest hockey IQ in the Top 9 on this team, see his odd man breakaway decisions, he is not fouling anyone. I can not recall him ever surprising me with a decision he made nor have I seen the opposition fouled much at all by him. Top 1% speed in the NHL but can not carry the puck at full speed. The amount of times he bobbles pucks at speed is crazy. He is having a very average season so far. Its a toss up who id move between Kapanen and Johnnson for different reason. Johnnson has better IQ, puck hunger, accurate shot, but imo is a few hits away from taking the tenacity out of him aka not convinced he will have a long NHL career.

Hiding a Grabner-type in your bottom-6 is useful, you can't have your D fully commit to pinching without risking a Kapanen breakaway.

 

[blue stick]

Where does Kapanen fit in these days? He's roughly on same points pace as last season.

 

[ULF_55]

Two games in a row where Kapanen sets up Engvall for a goal.

Both were intelligent plays, showing perhaps he's starting to slow down the game in his mind?

 

[1specter]

I want to keep Kapanen over AJ and the biggest reason for that is how his elite skating can break open a tight game, proof being tonight's first goal which was another clutch moment by him.

 

[Gabriel426]

Kap should be over AJ. AJ is a dime in a dozen Mid 6 fwds in the NHL while Kap got breakout speed that cause the other teams to think twice before pinching. A couple of more goals like today(how he broke out of the zone and set up Pierre), teams might just not pinch in when Kap is on the ice.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Someone needs to post that assist.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Two games in a row where Kapanen sets up Engvall for a goal.

Both were intelligent plays, showing perhaps he's starting to slow down the game in his mind?

Hope so. He’s been a streaky player though to date. Developing consistency will make him a legit top 6 winger

 

[Kelly]

Someone needs to post that assist.

https://hlslive-wsczoominwestus.med...urce=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

 

[crump]

Kapanen gets beat down by a lot of posters. Can someone explain how a player with little “hockey IQ” makes a play like that tonight?

 

[TML11]

https://hlslive-wsczoominwestus.med...urce=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

it was a beauty

 

[Mickey Marner]

Kapanen gets beat down by a lot of posters. Can someone explain how a player with little “hockey IQ” makes a play like that tonight?

What about this play do you think is demonstrative of "hockey IQ"?

It looks to be entirely a skills play, rather than a smarts play to me.

 

[ULF_55]

Kapanen gets beat down by a lot of posters. Can someone explain how a player with little “hockey IQ” makes a play like that tonight?

Is it possible he's showing growth based on a different carrot and stick process?

 

[ULF_55]

What about this play do you think is demonstrative of "hockey IQ"?

It looks to be entirely a skills play, rather than a smarts play to me.

Taco's.

I thought the set-up the other game was more cerebral.

 

[Dayjobdave]

Kapanens dangle before the pass on the assist was brilliant. And to think he’s somewhere between 3 and 6 on our winger depth chart.

 

[A1LeafNation]

What about this play do you think is demonstrative of "hockey IQ"?

It looks to be entirely a skills play, rather than a smarts play to me.

You need the smarts and the skills to execute that type of play.

 

[Beyonder91]

Kapanen gets beat down by a lot of posters. Can someone explain how a player with little “hockey IQ” makes a play like that tonight?

Players like Matthews/Marner make plays on a nightly basis that demonstrate their high hockey IQ.
Kapanen makes plays on a nightly basis that demonstrates his low hockey IQ.
He has a good shot and speed which still makes him an effective player.