1:00 pm: Kapanen has officially been placed on waivers, along with Nashville Predators defenseman Kevin Gravel, per NorthStar Bets’ Chris Johnston.
12:28 pm: The Pittsburgh Penguins will place forward Kasperi Kapanen on waivers today, according to head coach Mike Sullivan.
Kapanen, who was re-acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs before the 2020-21 season, has struggled to find his footing with the Penguins after a promising first year. In 43 games this season, the 26-year-old has recorded just seven goals and 13 assists, a steady drop-off from his production at the beginning of his Pittsburgh tenure.
The decision to waive Kapanen is made with the trade deadline in mind. The team is looking to clear some salary cap space to make a move, and burying Kapanen’s $3.2MM cap hit in the minors will take $1.125MM off his cap hit for the time being, the maximum buriable amount.
Kapanen has one year remaining on his contract after this season.
It’s highly doubtful Kapanen would be claimed on waivers, as the combination of his cap hit and term is undesirable for a player demoted to a fourth-line role this season. If he goes unclaimed, Kapanen could use some time with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to regain confidence.
Kapanen last played in the minors with the Toronto Marlies in 2017-18, recording 24 points in 28 games.
The Penguins’ name has been popping up more in trade rumors, as the team has quickly lost their small cushion on a wild card spot. Assigning Kapanen to the minors slightly adds to their $1.225MM projected deadline cap space, per CapFriendly.
… well, it’s something.
FI-re HEX-tall!!! *clap clap clapclapclap*
Hextall must be popular among his good ole boy NHL peers, He’s one of the most clueless executives I have ever seen but yet he keeps getting more chances, His resume as an executive is nothing short of embarrassing.
I’m shocked Vancouver hasn’t traded for him. JR seemed to have a fetish for this guy
Scapegoating the wrong guy.
Sullivan?
As a Flyers fan, all I have to say is…told y’all.
Can mcginn & carter join him
Odd, I was told McGinn was just as good as Tanev.
I’d love to see an alternate universe view of the past few Pens’ seasons where they actually got some saves.
Between Murray’s downturn, Jarry’s health and mediocre backup play, we haven’t been able to get a true look at the other 18 guys.
The past two rusty games aside, they have done well when they had a healthy Jarry sporting a .921 SVP.
The best course is to give Jarry another game or two to see if he can get his form back (UNLESS the reports that he has a chronic hip problem are true and then move now) but if he doesn’t, trade for Vejmelka.
Maybe the team is good, maybe it’s bad, but until they get some consistent saves, there is no way to know.
How many former leafs have been on the waiver wire this year? Think it’s a surprisingly high number
Guess that means Carrier will be back in the Preds lineup for the next game.
Not sticking up for Kapanen but he has been playing with Carter as his center pretty much all year