11:55am: Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that the deal is close to complete but will not be finalized until Marner’s situation is resolved. It is expected to be a three-year contract that will carry an average annual value between “in the $3.2MM to $3.4MM range.”
9:59am: The Toronto Maple Leafs have dominated headlines with restricted free agent negotiations, but mostly ones regarding Mitch Marner. There are two other key players who need new contracts in Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, and the Maple Leafs may be getting closer on at least one of them. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported last night that the Maple Leafs are getting closer to an extension with Kapanen, and Darren Dreger of TSN noted the same this morning.
Kapanen, 22, broke out this season with 20 goals and 44 points for the Maple Leafs while regularly lining up beside Auston Matthews on the team’s second unit. The speedy forward was also a regular on the penalty kill, even scoring a pair of short-handed goals. The fact that only three of his points came on the powerplay suggests that there might be an even higher level of production that Kapanen can get to in the future, making this an important negotiation for both sides.
While not eligible for arbitration, the young forward does have a solid bit of leverage with the Maple Leafs given their cap crunch and negotiations with Marner. The team has to get Kapanen at a reasonable amount if they want to bring everyone back, meaning he’ll likely get another chance to improve his stock on a short-term deal. That is of course unless the team has plans of moving out some salary somewhere else and inking Kapanen to a long-term deal at a reasonable but more expensive price.
There has also been reports that the Maple Leafs included Kapanen in a trade offer recently, trying to pry Brett Pesce out of Carolina. A new deal doesn’t guarantee that Kapanen would remain in Toronto for the season, as he cannot agree to any sort of trade protection given his status as a restricted free agent.
I believe unless they get a stuffed D with term in return Kapanen is staying. Babcock really used him last year. He’s fast, he competes, can play on the PK or kill a penalty. he’s a guy many teams would want. Now if he hit the net more than he hit the boards or glass with a shot, he’d potentially also be a 30 goal guy.
I like this prove it contract. If he’s a stud this year you can trade him in the summer for a nice return or hold onto him. Defiantly fits their 3 year window
Kapanen is a guy that will help you win playoff games and hopefully championships. He definitely is a part of the future and very happy he’s extended.
Now the leafs need to focus on moving Johnsson, Kadri and finally Zaitsev. Maybe package deals for a top 4 defenseman or two? Sorry to see the potential deal involving subban/nylander fall through. We’ve seen a few top 4 defenseman traded in the past week or so and the leafs unable to bring in a top 4 guy necessary to make the next step. Subban would have been an excellent fit. But so far the leafs have taken steps back, away from the Cup final. Trading marleau has removed the only true veteran leader in the clubhouse.
Several key pieces of the puzzle are clearly missing for Toronto to even get through a playoff round. Right now they aren’t even a playoff team in my opinion. But with the extension of Kapanen now makes it completely necessary to move Johnsson, Kadri and perhaps Connor Brown in order to shore up the defense. I’d hope to resign Tyler Ennis to solidify the bottom 6. Cheaper than both Kadri and Johnsson and even Brown.
Lots of work to be done here for sure. Right now only steps back instead of forward.