Edmonton Oilers Re-Sign Kasperi Kapanen To 1-Year Deal

The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year contract worth $ 1.3 million. In making this move, the Oilers are getting a player that is a solid bottom-six player that can score a timely goal. Kapanen didn’t provide a ton of offense during the regular season, scoring just 6 goals and 8 assists in 67 games with the Edmonton Oilers. 

Scoring In the Playoffs Can Land You a Contract 

Kasperi Kapanen had 3 goals and 3 assists in the playoffs, but they came at the best time Edmonton could’ve asked for. His most important goal in the playoffs was the overtime game-winner against the Vegas Golden Knights that sent the Oilers to the Conference Finals. Kasperi Kapanen is a player who isn’t the scorer he was earlier in his career, but he’s still a valuable piece to the team he’s on. 

Kapanen was claimed off waivers by the Oilers early in the season, so it’s a neat story that he was able to go from waiver claim to postseason hero in a matter of a few months. Kapanen was among many Edmonton players who stepped up during the playoffs in the absence of Zach Hyman, one of the Oilers’ more important pieces offensively. 

The Oilers Have To Look To the Future

Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin are two players on the Oilers to keep an eye on next season. They both had solid postseason numbers, but what can they do in another full season? It will be important to get some answers to that question, because of the future of superstar Connor McDavid. McDavid is certainly going to sign an extension with the Edmonton Oilers that will make him the highest-paid player in the league.

But by the off chance McDavid’s negotiations go on longer than expected or something catastrophic would happen where he would test the free agency market, the Oilers would desperately need scoring depth to cover for him. The chances of McDavid leaving are very slim.