Kasperi Kapanen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kasperi Kapanen
Kapanen with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020
Born	(1996-07-23) 23 July 1996 (age 29) Kuopio, Finland
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Edmonton Oilers KalPa Toronto Maple Leafs Pittsburgh Penguins St. Louis Blues
National team	Finland
NHL Draft	22nd overall, 2014 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	2013–present

Kasperi Kapanen (born on July 23, 1996) is a professional ice hockey player from Finland. He plays as a right wing for the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Kasperi first played in Finland's top league, Liiga, with KalPa during the 2012–13 season. The Pittsburgh Penguins chose him as the 22nd player overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft.

Kasperi Kapanen's Hockey Journey

Early Years in Finland

Kasperi's dad, Sami Kapanen, helped buy his junior team, KalPa, in Finland. So, it was natural for Kasperi to start playing for KalPa's younger teams. He began with the under-16 team and quickly became a top scorer.

As he got older, Kasperi moved up to the under-18 and then the under-20 teams. He kept scoring lots of points. In the 2012–13 season, he even played 13 games with the main KalPa team. He played alongside his father in Finland's top professional league.

Kasperi also played for the Finland under-18 national team. He helped them win a bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships. He was a key player for his team.

Becoming a Top Prospect

Before the 2014 NHL draft, Kasperi was seen as one of the best young players from Europe. He played most of that season with KalPa. He was supposed to play for the Finland under-20 team at the 2014 World Junior Championship. However, he got hurt right before the tournament and could not play.

Even with the injury, NHL teams still thought highly of him. The Pittsburgh Penguins picked Kasperi 22nd overall in the draft. It was the second time in a row the Penguins chose a Finnish player in the first round. The Penguins' general manager, Jim Rutherford, had also drafted Kasperi's father years before. Kasperi signed his first NHL contract with the Penguins on July 11, 2014.

On July 1, 2015, Kasperi was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was a big trade that included star player Phil Kessel.

At the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, Kasperi scored the winning goal in overtime. This helped Finland win the gold medal against Russia.

Playing in the NHL

Time with the Toronto Maple Leafs

Kasperi started the 2015–16 season with the Toronto Marlies. This team is the Maple Leafs' minor league affiliate. He was the youngest player in the league but played very well. He made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 29, 2016. He played nine games for the Maple Leafs that season.

Kapanen (top-left) during a face-off against the Washington Capitals in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs

In the 2016–17 season, Kasperi became one of the Marlies' best players. He was called up to the Maple Leafs later in the season. He scored his first NHL goal on April 8, 2017, against the Penguins. This goal was important because it helped the Maple Leafs make the Stanley Cup playoffs. A week later, he scored a double-overtime goal in the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. The Maple Leafs lost that series in six games.

Kasperi continued to play for both the Marlies and the Maple Leafs. In the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored a special goal in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins. It was a shorthanded goal, and he became the youngest player in NHL history to score one in a Game 7. The Maple Leafs lost that series too. After the playoffs, he joined the Finland senior national team for the 2018 IIHF World Championship.

For the 2018–19 season, Kasperi played full-time in the NHL with the Maple Leafs. He had a great season, scoring 20 goals and 44 points in 78 games. On June 28, 2019, he signed a new three-year contract with Toronto.

Return to the Pittsburgh Penguins

On August 25, 2020, Kasperi was traded back to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This trade involved several players.

After the 2021–22 season, Kasperi signed a new two-year contract with the Penguins on July 21, 2022.

Moving to St. Louis and Edmonton

On February 25, 2023, the St. Louis Blues claimed Kasperi off waivers. This means they picked him up from a list of available players.

During the 2024–25 season, Kasperi was again placed on waivers by the Blues. The Edmonton Oilers then claimed him on November 19, 2024. On May 14, 2025, Kasperi scored an overtime goal for the Oilers. This goal helped them win 1-0 against the Vegas Golden Knights and move forward in the playoffs. On June 30, 2025, Kasperi signed a one-year contract extension with the Oilers.

Kasperi Kapanen's Family Life

Kasperi was born in Kuopio, Finland, but he spent many of his younger years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was because his father, Sami Kapanen, played for the Philadelphia Flyers. Kasperi considers himself a "kid from Finland" even though he lived in the United States for a while.

Kasperi played alongside his father for KalPa in Finland during the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons. He has three younger siblings: Cassandra, Camila, and Konsta.

His family has a strong hockey background. Kasperi's grandfather, Hannu Kapanen, was also a professional ice hockey player. His uncle, Kimmo Kapanen, and cousin, Oliver Kapanen, also play hockey. His brother, Konsta Kapanen [fi], played in the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

International Medals

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World U18 Championship
Bronze	2013 Sochi
World U20 Championship
Gold	2016 Helsinki
Winter Youth Olympics
Gold	2012 Innsbruck