Kasperi Kapanen on Waivers Again: Is There Hope for a Comeback?
Kasperi Kapanen, the former Toronto Maple Leafs forward, has found himself on waivers once again, this time with the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old Finnish winger has been struggling to find his form, and after just 10 games this season, his performance led the Blues to place him on waivers. With a cap hit of $1 million, there are still teams who might take a chance on him, but it’s clear that Kapanen’s NHL career is at a crossroads.
Kapanen was originally drafted in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he became a part of the Leafs organization in 2015, when Toronto acquired him in the trade that sent Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh. For several seasons, Kapanen showed flashes of his potential, particularly with his speed and offensive upside, even recording a 20-goal season with the Leafs. But after several years of bouncing between the NHL and AHL, Kapanen was traded back to the Penguins in 2019, in exchange for a package that included a 2020 first-round pick.
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However, his time in Pittsburgh was marked by inconsistency. Kapanen struggled to maintain a consistent offensive presence, which eventually led to him being placed on waivers by the Penguins in the 2022-2023 season. The St. Louis Blues claimed him, hoping he could rediscover his game. He showed promise in his first stretch with the Blues, but his performance dipped again last season, and by the 2024 offseason, Kapanen signed a one-year, $1 million contract to remain with St. Louis.
So far this season, Kapanen has been largely ineffective. In 10 games, he’s managed only one goal and posted a minus-6 rating, with a disappointing 45.9% Corsi-for percentage. This poor showing led to Kapanen being a healthy scratch in recent games, further pushing him out of the team’s plans. His struggles have left the Blues with little choice but to place him on waivers as they need to clear space for injured players.
Given his contract, Kapanen’s situation is more complex. His $1 million cap hit is fully buriable, meaning if he clears waivers, he can be sent down to the AHL without counting against St. Louis’ cap. However, the bigger question remains whether another team will take a chance on him. Once seen as a middle-six forward with the ability to chip in offensively, Kapanen has yet to establish himself as a consistent contributor since leaving Toronto.
Despite his challenges, Kapanen is still relatively young, and his speed and skill make him an intriguing reclamation project for teams in need of a winger. But at this point, his future in the NHL looks uncertain. If he clears waivers, it will mark the first time since his rookie year that he has been sent to the AHL. Time will tell if Kasperi Kapanen can turn things around or if his NHL career is heading in a different direction.
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