Prospect Info: Kasperi Kapanen | Winger | KalPa (Liiga) | 1st round, 22nd overall

[shureshot66]

Scouting Report:
http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/04/15/2014-nhl-draft-profile-14-kasperi-kapanen/

Date of birth: 7/23/1996
Place of birth: Kuopio, Finland
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 181 lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: RW
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2014
Twitter: @kasperikapanen

Kasperi Kapanen comes from a long line of hockey players, most notably his father Sami. He’s one of the most talented kids in the draft this year and has been playing the majority of his young career against much older and smarter competition.

Kapanen can’t fly around the ice quite like his father, but he does have above average speed. His wrist shot and very fast release haunts goalies who are slow to make reactions. He can handle the puck through tight spaces and is just as potent a passer as he is a scorer.


He’s going to need some extra time in Finland before he makes the jump to the NHL. He’s not looked at as a defensive player, but he does play a North American style when he backchecks. Kapanen has some time to grow into his body which will help with his physical game and board play, an aspect he need to work on.

http://thehockeywriters.com/kasperi-kapanen-prospect-profile/

Click to read more...

 

[IHWR]

Kinda like it.

 

[Michael8771*]

Apparently he was the best player available. Not bad I guess.

 

[Jacob]

Love to have more Finns.

 

[wej20]

good hair.

 

[bathroomSTAAL]

Great hockey name, good bloodlines, good position. That's my eval.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Real question is can he play defense? We don't draft forwards in the first round.

 

[IHWR]

I typically don't like pedigree players but Kapanen's different.

He's in between that homerun and safe pick. Pretty high ceiling, pretty low risk of busting.

 

[QnebO]

Real question is can he play defense? We don't draft forwards in the first round.

Maada?

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Rutherford drafter his dad back in '95, too.

 

[Son Goku]

Hate that he isn't NHL ready.

 

[McGlassbangers]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvBMFunDeHo

Pros:
- Is ridiculously good skater. Has explosive acceleration and amazing top-speed
- Great puckhandling ablities. Is able to make nasty moves in full speed
- Hard and accurate shot, can finish with deadly wrister and hard one-timer
- Isn't biggest player around but plays physical brand of hockey. Drives to the net with passion and likes to play the body

Cons:
- Needs to bulk up
- Needs to develop his defensive game

 

[wej20]

Hate that he isn't NHL ready.

chances of getting an NHL ready player at 22 are slim.

 

[FinPanda]

Määttä and Kapanen both #22 picks.

 

[chethejet]

RH shot with speed and has a great bloodline. Draft a forward and that is a good selection. Pens need to bring some finishers into the franchise. No pun intended but Pens have a bunch of smaller third line guys who just lack significant upside.

 

[SaintLouHaintBlue]

I typically don't like pedigree players but Kapanen's different.

He's in between that homerun and safe pick. Pretty high ceiling, pretty low risk of busting.

Hull?
Steen?
Howe?
Statsny?
Sutter?

 

[penguins2946*]

He was consistently ranked as a top-10 pick in basically every mock draft I've seen. He could be a steal. His player style is Patrick Sharp, and he will probably be a 7.5C on HF if I had to guess.

 

[tom_servo]

Rutherford drafter his dad back in '95, too.

Anyone but me surprised Sami is his dad? Am I getting old?

 

[QnebO]

chances of getting an NHL ready player at 22 are slim.

Maata at least was.

 

[gopens66]

6 ft is big enough

he'll fill out, and his strengths sound exactly like what we need

 

[wej20]

Maata at least was.

he still did 1 year after being drafted.

 

[QnebO]

6 ft is big enough

he'll fill out, and his strengths sound exactly like what we need

Bigger than Jussi. I think he needs year in Finnish League but he is good.

 

[td_ice]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvBMFunDeHo

Pros:
- Is ridiculously good skater. Has explosive acceleration and amazing top-speed
- Great puckhandling ablities. Is able to make nasty moves in full speed
- Hard and accurate shot, can finish with deadly wrister and hard one-timer
- Isn't biggest player around but plays physical brand of hockey. Drives to the net with passion and likes to play the body

Cons:
- Needs to bulk up
- Needs to develop his defensive game

Thanks for the report on Kapanen. That reads well.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Hells yeah!

 

[Your Boy Troy]

This is a good pick. It feels good to get better depth with forward prospects.

He looked an inch shorter than Tocchet, so he must be around 5'11".