The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kasperi Kapanen in a multiplayer trade on Tuesday, reuniting the 24-year-old forward with the basic supervisor who prepared him.
The Penguins sent center Evan Rodrigues, defenseman David Warsofsky, forward Filip Hallander and their 2020 first-round draft pick (15th general) to Toronto for Kapanen, the rights to KHL forward Pontus Aberg and defenseman Jesper Lindgren.
“Kasperi is an excellent, young player that brings speed to our lineup and plays the method we wish to play. “Having formerly drafted him, we understand him as a gamer and feel he can improve our top-six,” said Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford.
2 RelatedThe Penguins chose Kapanen with the 22nd overall choice in 2014, prior to trading him to the Leafs in the hit Phil Kessel trade of July 2015. Rutherford also drafted Kapanens daddy, Sami, in 1995 while general manager of the Hartford Whalers.
In 4 years with the Maple Leafs, Kapanen had 41 objectives and 49 helps in 202 games. He hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in 2018-19.
For the Leafs, the trade provides some salary-cap flexibility. Rodrigues is a limited totally free agent. Hallander is on his rookie deal through 2022 and Warsofsky is on a rookie deal through 2021. Kapanen makes $3.2 million versus the wage cap through 2022.
