Leafs trade Kapanen to Penguins for 1st Rd

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Leafs trade Kapanen to Penguins for 1st Rd

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Kasperi Kapanen to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a package including a 2020 first-round pick, the team announced Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Kapanen tallied 13 goals and 36 points in 69 games with the Maple Leafs this season.

Pittsburgh drafted Kapanen with its first-round pick in 2014 but traded him to Toronto a year later in the deal that sent Phil Kessel to the Penguins.
Kapanen was Jim Rutherford's first draft pick as general manager of the Penguins. His father, Sami Kapanen, played under Rutherford with the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Maple Leafs traded their own 2020 first-round pick (which ended up being 13th overall) last offseason to the Hurricanes to shed Patrick Marleau's contract.

Pittsburgh doesn't own a first-round pick until 2022, as it sent its 2021 first-rounder to the Minnesota Wild as part of the Jason Zucker trade. The Penguins have used just one first-round pick (Samuel Poulin in 2019) since selecting Kapanen in 2014.
 
Sad to see him go. He was my favorite Leaf for the past few years.
 
Personally I think Pens got hosed. I understand the win now plan but you need to refill the cupboard at some point. I just hope their not in the same place as after Jagr trade once Crosby retires(or is traded Ray Bourque style..... ie. giving him one more shot if pit is out at deadline)
 
I like the trade for the Pens. Kapanen was stuck behind Marner and Nylander. But when Nylander was holding out, Kapanen looked really good and can play top 6 and with skilled players. He also has a cap friendly salary. To me he's a better deal than Nylander because of the contract, yet close in skill set. Plus now Crosby and Malkin have some pretty good wingers to play with.

I'm pretty sure that Rutherford will make up the some of the prospect cupboard with a Murray trade.

Poulin seems to be developing nicely, but no need to rush him because top 9 pretty much set.

Seems like Rutherford likes to dip in the college pool for dmen. Marino was a good signing. And he just signed another. Left D is the biggest hole right now, but there's enough cap room to add a solid top 4 LD.
 
tiger tiger said:
I'm pretty sure that Rutherford will make up the some of the prospect cupboard with a Murray trade.
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I'm not sure that happens unless Sully is gone. Murray is Sully's guy! I'm not a Murray fan and not buying into the hype. He was in a very fortunate postion to not LOSE series and did so. Maybe it's just me but I just don't see him being the future. I resisted the Fleury hype for a long time too but he really ended up performing in his latter years here. I haven't seen it from Murray.
 
If Kapanen's head ever catches up to his feet man he would be one dangerous player. Hope he does well with the Pens, if he does get to play top 6 ,I'm sure he will do well.
Cheers.
Dan.
 
Maybe Kapanen will be better than i thought. It seems like most Leafs fan like the trade (only a handful don't... Out of messages I've read).
 
I'm a Leaf fan, and while I'll miss Kapanen, it was inevitable that somebody got moved and the fact that it was for a first rounder is almost hard to believe. That's why I see it as a win.

Cory
 
Regardless of what Kapanen may or may not become for the Penguins, they gave up way too much. Hallander is a pretty decent prospect and also giving up the 15th pick in a fairly deep draft? That's a large overpayment. Yeah, Pens are very much in win-now mode, but there has to be a point where you stop buying. Pittsburgh now doesn't have a first-round pick until 2022 and don't pick until the third round in this year's draft. Only two picks combined in the top three rounds of the next two drafts. That's not good.
 
ChuckNorrisFearsSid said:
I'm not sure that happens unless Sully is gone. Murray is Sully's guy! I'm not a Murray fan and not buying into the hype. He was in a very fortunate postion to not LOSE series and did so. Maybe it's just me but I just don't see him being the future. I resisted the Fleury hype for a long time too but he really ended up performing in his latter years here. I haven't seen it from Murray.
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I don't think Rutherford cares what Sullivan thinks. Didn't he already fire the rest of the coaching staff? So if Rutherford can get a decent return for Murray, he's going to do it and ride Jarry. Maybe sign a vet goalie for cheaper to split time.

While I do think the 15th overall pick was a bit expensive, that was the only asset Pens really had that would be a comparable value. Leafs are in a cap crunch so I would assume the pressure is more on them. But to secure Kapanen, giving a 1st would be the best offer available. Either that or Sam Poulin, but he's already developing well, it is better to move an uncertain asset like a 1st.

It could be that another team drove up the price that also has cap space and is looking for immediate help. Maybe CBJ, MTL, NJ or OTT was willing to part with a mid to late 1st.

While this year has some decent players available for the draft, there is a lot of uncertainty. Scouts weren't able to watch players during playoff pushes and playoff runs. And a couple of key international tournaments were cancelled. So I wouldn't be surprised that there would be more future NHLers coming out of the 2nd and 3rd rounds, maybe even later as team take a chance on less scouted or typical hockey leagues.
 
HammerHawks said:
Regardless of what Kapanen may or may not become for the Penguins, they gave up way too much. Hallander is a pretty decent prospect and also giving up the 15th pick in a fairly deep draft? That's a large overpayment. Yeah, Pens are very much in win-now mode, but there has to be a point where you stop buying. Pittsburgh now doesn't have a first-round pick until 2022 and don't pick until the third round in this year's draft. Only two picks combined in the top three rounds of the next two drafts. That's not good.
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Picks are only as good as your scouting staff's record. There are quite a few teams that have an abysmal draft record, despite keeping their picks and even acquiring extra.

I think the bigger asset for teams will be cap room. I can foresee a bunch of teams under cap pressure. Also, don't forget about the expansion draft. If some GM's are smarter, they will talk to teams this year about trading players that could be exposed to Seattle.
 
tiger tiger said:
I like the trade for the Pens. Kapanen was stuck behind Marner and Nylander. But when Nylander was holding out, Kapanen looked really good and can play top 6 and with skilled players. He also has a cap friendly salary. To me he's a better deal than Nylander because of the contract, yet close in skill set. Plus now Crosby and Malkin have some pretty good wingers to play with.

I'm pretty sure that Rutherford will make up the some of the prospect cupboard with a Murray trade.

Poulin seems to be developing nicely, but no need to rush him because top 9 pretty much set.

Seems like Rutherford likes to dip in the college pool for dmen. Marino was a good signing. And he just signed another. Left D is the biggest hole right now, but there's enough cap room to add a solid top 4 LD.
Click to expand...


we got Marino from Edmonton
 
I just remember when Nylander was holding out (which I thought was a bad idea), Kapanen stepped in and took his spot. From the beginning of the season to when Nylander finally played his first game, Kapanen looked really good.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?re...&sort=points,goals,assists&page=0&pageSize=50

21 points in 29 games (0.72 PPG), and almost all even strength points, and 1 short handed point. He had no PP points, which means I don't think he even played on the PP. I didn't dig up the stats. It is a small sample size, but he also did this 2 years ago. As expected, when Nylander signed and was given back the minutes, Kapanen's numbers dipped. But that season, Nylander got bumped to the 3rd and 4th lines because he wasn't close to being NHL shape, and never got his groove. Kapanen got 23 points in 67 games after Nylander came back, who got 23 in 49 games.

IF Kapanen can realize that potential again, he will be a steal. Maybe Leafs fans can give a bit more insight if Babcock had protected Kapanen a bit or if he was getting some harder minutes.

Guentzel - Crosby - Kapanen
Zucker - Malkin - Rust
Simon - McCann - Hornqvist
Aston Reese - Bjugstad - Sam Poulin

Those forward lines look pretty decent.
 
Pens fans can take comfort in the fact that the Leafs always give up on the wrong young talent and they typically shine when they get to their new team.
 
tiger tiger said:
Guentzel - Crosby - Kapanen
Zucker - Malkin - Rust
Simon - McCann - Hornqvist
Aston Reese - Bjugstad - Sam Poulin

Those forward lines look pretty decent.
Click to expand...


I would say at least one of McCann/Hornqvist/Bjugstad/Simon will go away. You forgot to include Tanev, unless I missed something about him.
 
Brave said:
I would say at least one of McCann/Hornqvist/Bjugstad/Simon will go away. You forgot to include Tanev, unless I missed something about him.
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Yes, I missed tanev. McCann and Simon are RFAs. I think McCann will get re-signed. Simon could end up as the 13th forward, and Poulin spends another year in junior to get him ample ice time unless he has an awesome camp and makes the team. Also, there's Blueger too who is signed until next year.

So bottom 6 could be:
Tanev - Bjugstad - Hornqvist
Blueger - McCann - Aston Reese
Simon

and Poulin going back to junior.
 
courtesy of doofas dubas destroying the leafs .. you just lost a skilled player because you handcuffed the team with nylander and tavares contacts .. they will never raise their game and when it counts, in the playoffs nylander and tavares choke..
i can honestly say that I will never witness the leafs win a stanley cup in my lifetime.

mark hunter should never have been let go
sheldon keefe should not be the head coach
but leave it to doofas to bring a troubled past to lead the leafs
 
Pens have to give it one last shot for Crosby. Don't have time to wait on a middle 1st round prospect to mature and develop. I get that you need to build thru the draft, but once Crosby and Malkin are gone, it is basically blow it up and rebuild time anyways.
 
dismonkey1 said:
Pens have to give it one last shot for Crosby. Don't have time to wait on a middle 1st round prospect to mature and develop. I get that you need to build thru the draft, but once Crosby and Malkin are gone, it is basically blow it up and rebuild time anyways.
Click to expand...

I really thought the hockey gods were going to let the Pens win the lottery.

Lemieux - Jagr - Crosby/Malkin - Lafrienere...it would be a half century of superstars for the Pens.
 

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