The hockey world has been on pause for nearly three months, but things are looking up after the NHL announced plans for a 24-team Stanley Cup Playoffs last month, moving to Phase 2 of the Return to Play Plan on Monday and the announcement that the clubs will open training camps on July 10. The league shutdown has not stopped clubs from doing whatever business they can (including signing prospects to entry-level contracts and free agents from the KHL) and potentially formulating plans after the season with the financial losses affecting the salary cap over the next couple seasons.
Kasperi Kapanen continues to be an intriguing player with an excellent skill set, but has still not put everything together after two full NHL seasons with Toronto. Acquired as part of the Phil Kessel deal, the 23-year-old reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time last season and scored a career-high 44 points, earning a three-year, $9.6 Million bridge deal.
With the injury to Zach Hyman and the trade of Patrick Marleau, Toronto hoped that Kapanen could handle a move to the opposite wing in the top six, but he did not appear comfortable on the left side with John Tavares and Mitch Marner. Only when moved back to his natural position did Kapanen seem more effective, but with Marner and William Nylander on the right side of the top two lines, that relegated the speedster to third-line duty.
Kapanen was scratched in February for being late to practice and while nearly matching his assist total from last season in just 69 games, he had only 13 goals and at the time of the pause was again shifted to the left side when Andreas Johnsson was injured.
Toronto may need to make a move for cap relief after the season with the salary cap likely remaining at $81.5 Million, with restricted free agents like Ilya Mikheyev and Travis Dermott needing new deals and Zach Hyman and Frederik Andersen scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in 2021. With both Nylander and Marner locked up long term, the Leafs have the luxury of a player capable of being a top-six right winger locked in at a $3.2 Million AAV for two more seasons who is still under control as a restricted free agent after that.
Dubas might be challenged to get an equal value return for Johnsson coming off a knee injury, but may not have any problems finding suitors for Kapanen if he wants to find an upgrade on the blueline or recoup high draft picks used to acquire Jake Muzzin or clear Marleau’s contract.
We discuss the nuts & bolts of Phase 2, which Hub Cities we see as most likely, how NHL roster size might be handled, Isles’ Ilya Sorokin dilemma, & much more.
— 🎙🏒Off The Post Radio 🥅 🚨 (@OffThePostRadio) June 7, 2020
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