Oilers re-sign Kasperi Kapanen to one-year contract
The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.3 million contract with winger Kasperi Kapanen.
KAPPY HOUR ⏰
The #Oilers have re-signed forward Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.3 million. pic.twitter.com/kWDC6oGOr2
Kapanen, a 28-year-old from Finland, was set to test the free agent market on July 1, but will instead stay put in Alberta.
The Oilers acquired Kapanen off waivers from the St. Louis Blues in November, and he proved to be a key addition as Edmonton went on another run to the Stanley Cup Final.
In 57 regular season games with Edmonton, Kapanen scored 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points, though he skated to a minus-16 rating.
The former Toronto Maple Leaf and Pittsburgh Penguin upped his game in the playoffs, scoring 3 goals and tallying 3 assists for 6 points in the 12 games in which he appeared.
Kapanen played up and down the lineup, often skating alongside superstar center Leon Draisaitl as head coach Kris Knoblauch looked to balance the attack, especially with Zach Hyman out for the Stanley Cup Final.
Kapanen found the back of the net in Game 4 and Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, and his two assists in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final helped lift the Oilers to an early series lead over the Florida Panthers.
A speedy depth forward who provides solid penalty killing ability, Kapanen has 90 goals, 132 assists and 222 points in his NHL career.
The son of former NHL winger Sami Kapanen, Kasperi was selected in the first round of the 2014 NHL draft by Pittsburgh before being sent to Toronto in the deal that sent Phil Kessel to the Steel City.
After his time with the Leafs, Kapanen went back to the Pittsburgh organization, having the most productive season of his career in 2020-2021, when he racked up 30 points in 40 games.
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