Friedman: There’s a ‘decent chance’ the Oilers re-sign Kasperi Kapanen

Stan Bowman arrived in Edmonton last July with much of the off-season work already completed. He still had to deal with the fallout from offer sheets for Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, but his only additions to the roster prior to the start of the season were acquiring their replacements in Vasily Podkolzin and Ty Emberson.

While his first in-season move was flipping AHL defenceman Ben Gleason for Ronnie Attard, claiming Kasperi Kapanen was the first move made that impacted the NHL roster.

It took some time for Kapanen to adjust to Edmonton, but throughout the regular season and playoffs, he found himself playing more often than not, showing an ability to slide up and down the lineup and be a penalty killer.

Now, the Oilers are reportedly looking to sign the pending unrestricted free agent to a new deal, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

“I also think there’s a decent chance Kapanen stays,” he said on the 32 Thoughts podcast. “He found kind of a home there, there’s a spot there. I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays.”

Kapanen appeared in 57 regular-season games for the Oilers, scoring five goals and 13 points, adding a trio of goals and six points in 12 playoff games — including the series-clenching overtime winner against the Vegas Golden Knights.

He isn’t projected for a big deal, either. Evolving Hockey projects him to sign a one-year, $1.2-million deal, while AFP Analytics projects a one-year, $936,431 deal. A deal within the $1-million range is fair for Kapanen, and he’s a player who can help add some competition to training camp — something the team will surely want — and if things don’t work out, could be a candidate for waivers.

Kapanen has appeared in 527 NHL games, scoring 90 goals and 222 points. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins 22nd overall in the 2014 draft, he was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Phil Kessel trade, debuting in the Blue and White in 2015-16.