Kapanen is another player who needs a great season. Leaf fans keep saying the only reason he's been very unproductive/cant make their team is because of their depth and he's surely a 20/20 guy next season.
Some spots opening up and if he can't crack the top 6 or is unproductive then he very well may just be a 3rd/4th line fast player.
Honestly, he's a middle-six NHL winger if you watch him play, and really has been for a year now. Great wheels, good hands. Not overly creative, but a guy that can play both special teams and has already shown an ability to score big goals. He's done with the AHL for sure (didn't even go back for their Calder Cup run despite being eligible).
The fact that Kapanen, Leivo, Jonsson , etc couldn't get in the lineup over Matt goddamn Martin for the first half of the season is much more of an indictment on Babcock than any real indication of their talent. With Komarov and JVR likely out, Martin perma-scratched, and the possibility of Nylander moving to centre, I'd put about a 90% chance on Kapanen skating in a top-9 role with the Leafs this season, hopefully with heavy PK usage.