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Oilers 2025-26 Report Cards: Kasperi Kapanen

Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen reacts at the end of Game 6 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

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Oilers 2025-26 Report Cards: Kasperi Kapanen

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Matt Parks | Last updated May 28, 2026 9:25 AM ET

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As the offseason rolls on, so do the Edmonton Oilers’ player grades. The last report card graded Connor Ingram, and now we turn our attention to Kasperi Kapanen.

The Oilers claimed Kapanen off waivers from the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 19, 2024, and he has fit in like a glove with his new team. As a result, general manager Stan Bowman gave him a one-year contract extension with a $1.3 million cap hit. But he’s a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) this offseason, so the Oilers have a tough decision to make.

Kapanen provided great value on a very affordable contract. He found a home on the second line alongside Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin. That trio had instant chemistry, and former head coach Kris Knoblauch would always put them back together when they needed a spark. There was a comfort level with them, and they produced.

Kapanen struggled with consistency issues throughout his Oilers tenure, but he was still a valuable player on the team. While he was a non-factor for stretches, he also scored some huge goals and had impactful moments. Let’s reflect on his 2025-26 season.

2025-26 Performance

Kapanen registered eight goals and 17 points with a plus-5 rating, averaging 14:35 of ice time in just 41 games. The 2014 first-round pick didn’t record a power-play point, but did his damage at even strength. He averaged 0.41 points per game. Once again, injuries plagued him this season. He suffered a lower-body injury on Oct. 19 against the Detroit Red Wings and missed the next 36 games before returning on Jan. 6 against the Nashville Predators. He was set to return in November, but he suffered a setback in practice, delaying his return.

He’s a speedy and physical winger. He registered 75 hits, the sixth-most on the team, but in nearly half of the games played. His max skating speed was 23.92 miles per hour, placing him in the 98th percentile, according to NHL Edge. His skating and physicality made him the perfect complementary piece.

Kapanen was excellent in the playoffs, recording four goals and six points in six games with a plus-7 rating, averaging 17:53 per game. This was the highest average ice time in his postseason career, and it was well deserved. He was also physical, recording 17 hits, the fourth-most on the team. The right winger averaged 9.51 hits per 60 minutes.

His 5-on-5 playoff metrics were great. In 95:13 of ice time, he was on the ice for 52 percent of the shots and 62.96 percent of the high-danger scoring chances. He also outscored his opponents 8-1, including 5-0 in high-danger goals. The Oilers were opportunistic with him on the ice.

His line with Draisaitl and Podkolzin was undoubtedly Edmonton’s best line, and they got rewarded for their efforts. He had a huge two-goal game in Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks, including the game-winning goal with under two minutes left to secure the victory. He went pointless just once in that series and was a contributing factor. The 29-year-old was one of the few bright spots during an underwhelming postseason. He has shown up for Edmonton in back-to-back playoff runs.

Overall Grade

Despite the injuries, Kapanen had a solid season. While he was just average in the regular season, he stepped up in big moments in the playoffs and provided quality depth scoring. That should be worth more and weighted higher.

Last season, Kapanen received a C+, but the playoffs improved his grade. The same can be said for this season. Therefore, he deserves a B- for this campaign. He would’ve been in the Cs, but a great playoff run drastically improved his grade. He will likely get a good payday on the open market, so is he worth re-signing? The organization could look internally for his replacement. Or, they could sign a cheaper free agent option, making him expendable. He was a solid Oiler, but it might be time to move on and look elsewhere.

Do you agree with his grade? Should the Oilers bring him back for another season? Keep following The Hockey Writers as we continue the Oilers’ player report cards throughout the offseason.

Advanced stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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