Kasperi Kapanen Bio
Samu Kasperi Kapanen, known professionally as Kasperi Kapanen, is a Finnish professional ice hockey right winger for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 194 pounds, Kapanen skates and shoots right, and has carved out a steady NHL career since being selected 22nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. A native of Kuopio, Finland, he has also spent significant time in North America, including Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he maintains a residence.
Early Life and Background
Samu Kasperi Kapanen was born on 23 July 1996 in Kuopio, Finland, a city that has long been associated with his family. Although he was born in Finland, much of his childhood was spent in the United States. Kapanen considers himself a Philadelphia native, having lived there during the years his father played for the Philadelphia Flyers. He has also lived in Farmington, Connecticut, and Cary, North Carolina, when his father was part of the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise. Despite these North American roots, Kapanen has often described himself as a kid from Finland.
He comes from a deep hockey lineage. Kapanen is the grandson of former professional ice hockey player Hannu Kapanen, the great-nephew of Jari Kapanen, the nephew of Kimmo Kapanen, and the cousin of Oliver Kapanen. His brother Konsta Kapanen debuted at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Kapanen also has two sisters, Cassandra, born in 1999, and Camila, born in 2001.
Path to Hockey
Kapanen’s path to professional hockey ran through the junior system of his hometown club, KalPa. He began with the under-16 affiliate in the Jr. C SM-Sarja, where he led the team in goals and finished second in points, although the team fell short in its playoff qualifier. The following season, he split time between the under-16 and under-18 squads in the Jr. B SM-Sarja, posting 16 points in eight games with the younger team and 24 points in 25 games with the older group, finishing second in both goals and points.
By his third year, Kapanen had advanced to the under-20 team in the Jr. A SM-Liiga, recording 29 points in 36 games. He also appeared in 13 games for the senior KalPa squad in the SM-liiga, Finland’s top professional league, playing alongside his father. At season’s end, he represented Finland at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships, leading the team in goals and helping Finland capture a bronze medal.
Kasperi Kapanen Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Kapanen made his Liiga debut with KalPa during the 2012–13 SM-liiga season at just 16 years old. Entering his draft year as one of the top European prospects, he spent most of the 2013–14 campaign with KalPa, scoring seven goals in 47 games. He finished first among European-based skaters in both the mid-season and final NHL Central Scouting rankings, even though an injury kept him out of the 2014 World Junior Championship.
On 11 July 2014, Kapanen signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team that had drafted him 22nd overall. He did not appear in an NHL game for Pittsburgh before being included in a blockbuster trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs on 1 July 2015, a multi-player deal headlined by star forward Phil Kessel.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2015–2020)
Kapanen began the 2015–16 season with the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, where, as the youngest player in the AHL, he helped the team finish first in the league standings. He made his NHL debut on 29 February 2016 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on a night that also featured the debut of William Nylander. He played nine games for the Maple Leafs without recording a point before returning to the Marlies for their 2016 Calder Cup playoff run, which ended in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The following season, Kapanen scored his first NHL goal on 8 April 2017 against the Penguins, the team that had originally drafted him. That goal helped Toronto clinch a Stanley Cup playoff berth for the first time since 2013, a remarkable turnaround after the Maple Leafs had finished last in the league the previous year. In the 2017 playoffs, he scored a key overtime goal in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Washington Capitals, though Toronto ultimately lost the series in six games. During the 2017–18 season, Kapanen became the youngest player in NHL history to score a shorthanded goal in a Game 7, a marker that came against the Boston Bruins. In 2018–19, he posted 20 goals and 44 points in 78 games, and on 28 June 2019, he signed a three-year, $9.6 million contract extension with Toronto.
Return to Pittsburgh (2020–2023)
On 25 August 2020, the Maple Leafs traded Kapanen back to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a package for a first-round pick. As a restricted free agent after the 2021–22 season, he signed a two-year, $6.4 million contract extension with the Penguins on 21 July 2022.
St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers (2023–Present)
On 25 February 2023, Kapanen was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Blues. During the 2024–25 season, after registering just one goal in 10 appearances, he was placed on waivers by St. Louis and claimed by the Edmonton Oilers on 19 November 2024. On 14 May 2025, Kapanen scored the overtime winner in a 1-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, eliminating them from playoff contention. He signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract extension with Edmonton on 30 June 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kapanen is recognized for his speed, two-way responsibility, and versatility across the forward lines. He has been deployed in checking, middle-six, and top-six roles throughout his career, and he has shown a willingness to play through injuries. His skill set is well suited to fast-paced, skilled lineups, and he has built a track record of contributing timely goals in high-pressure situations, including in overtime.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kapanen’s signature moments is the overtime goal against Russia at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, which delivered Finland the gold medal. He also made history as the youngest player to score a shorthanded goal in a Game 7, a feat he accomplished with the Maple Leafs. His overtime winner against the Vegas Golden Knights in May 2025 added another marquee playoff moment to his résumé.
Kasperi Kapanen Career Wins
Kapanen’s career has been marked by a steady accumulation of team and individual milestones, most notably the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship gold medal with Finland. While he has not captured major NHL trophies, his playoff performances, including multiple overtime goals, have been central to his reputation as a clutch contributor.
International Highlights
Kapanen won gold with Finland at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, scoring the overtime game-winning goal against Russia in the final. He also represented Finland at the 2013 and 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, helping the team to a bronze medal in 2013, and played for the Finland senior national team at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.
Kasperi Kapanen Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Kapanen family. Kasperi is the grandson of former professional ice hockey player Hannu Kapanen and is related to several other hockey figures, including his great-uncle Jari Kapanen, his uncle Kimmo Kapanen, and his cousin Oliver Kapanen. His father, Sami Kapanen, enjoyed a long NHL career that included stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise. Kasperi’s brother, Konsta Kapanen, debuted at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Personal Life
Despite his Finnish roots, Kapanen grew up largely in North America and considers himself a Philadelphia native. He has three siblings: Cassandra, born in 1999, Camila, born in 2001, and Konsta, born in 2003. In 2023, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported that Kapanen was suspected of aggravated drunk driving, and on 8 February 2024, a Finnish court sentenced him to a fine totaling 108,700 euros.
2025 Season Performance
Kapanen joined the Edmonton Oilers mid-season in November 2024 and quickly became part of Edmonton’s forward group during the 2024–25 campaign. His most memorable contribution came on 14 May 2025, when he scored the overtime winner in a 1-0 victory that eliminated the Vegas Golden Knights from playoff contention. That clutch performance cemented his role as a depth scorer capable of stepping up in critical moments.
Following the season, Kapanen signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract extension with the Oilers on 30 June 2025, signaling the club’s confidence in his continued contribution. He led the Oilers in goals and plus-minus during the 2026 playoffs, although Edmonton ultimately fell to the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, 4 games to 2.
Heading into the 2025–26 season, Kapanen is expected to provide speed, defensive reliability, and secondary scoring for an Oilers team looking to advance further in the postseason. His blend of playoff experience and two-way play should keep him in a meaningful role within Edmonton’s forward ranks.
