Oilers Forward Kasperi Kapanen Opens Up About the Heavy Burden of Playing for the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen has settled in nicely in Edmonton, and he is likely much happier now than he was in Toronto, as playing for the Leafs was a burden.
Edmonton Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen is another former Toronto Maple Leafs player who is playing very well during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Final, he was asked about his time in Toronto, where he admitted the pressure can really wear heavy on a player.
"Media presence is big there and not always necessarily the best thing, but it does prepare you for the future," Kapanen told reporters, including TSN's Mark Masters. "Coming to Edmonton, with it being in Canada, I was used to it. But I think you guys in Toronto, it's still on another level."
Kapanen's time with the Leafs was an interesting one, to say the least. Expectations were high for the 22nd pick in the 2014 NHL Draft when the Leafs acquired him in a trade that involved Phil Kessel.
It wasn't until the 2018-19 season that Kapanen broke out, when he scored 20 goals and added 24 assists in 78 games.
After 2018-19, however, Kapanen's production with the Leafs not only began to drop off, but he was also benched after sleeping in and being late for a practice. That was the beginning of the end for him, as he was dealt back to Pittsburgh in 2020.
After a few seasons with the Penguins, questions about his defensive ability began to arise, putting his overall reliability in doubt. Kapanen was placed on waivers in February of 2023.
Later that year, things really took a turn for the worse as he was convicted of aggravated DUI in Finland and opened up about his personal struggles with alcohol.
Edmonton claimed Kapanen off waivers from St. Louis
The Blues re-signed Kapanen to a one-year deal, but he again struggled and was placed on waivers and claimed by the Edmonton Oilers.
Kapanen has since been a key contributor, particularly in Round 2, including scoring the overtime Game 5 clinching goal against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Being with the Oilers was Kapanen's last chance to show he belonged in the NHL. When it has mattered the most, he has shown that he can play the way teams need him to for sustained success, which is showing, as the Oilers are now in the Finals.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 8 | 295 ANSWERS Oilers Forward Kasperi Kapanen Opens Up About the Heavy Burden of Playing for the Maple Leafs Is Edmonton an easier place to play in than Toronto? | ||
| Yes | 233 | 79 % |
| No | 62 | 21 % |
| List of polls | ||
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