Oilers 2026-27 Player Previews: Kasperi Kapanen

The 2026-27 season starts in a few weeks, so let’s continue our Edmonton Oilers player preview series. The last player we looked at was goaltender Tristan Jarry, and now we turn our attention to forward Kasperi Kapanen.

The Oilers claimed Kapanen off waivers from the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 19, 2024, and he found a home in Edmonton. This was a successful pickup and resulted in him signing consecutive one-year deals to stay with the organization. His newest contract has a cap hit of $2.6 million, up from the $1.3 million he was making last season. His solid production and elevated role earned him this contract. Let’s preview his upcoming season.

Can Kapanen Stay Healthy?

The Finnish winger recorded eight goals and 17 points in 41 games. He was on pace for 16 goals, but he only played half the season due to injury. He was also limited to 67 games the season prior, including 57 after his waiver pickup.

He suffered multiple lower-body injuries last season. He sustained a knee injury on Oct. 19, which kept him out until January. He was set to return at the end of November, but had a setback in practice. That pushed back his return, and he missed 36 games during that stretch.

He returned on Jan 6, but then slid into the boards awkwardly eight games later and landed on the shelf once again. He also missed a few games after the Olympic break. Kapanen couldn’t catch a break last season, which was unfortunate. When he was playing, he was effective. The problem was, he wasn’t on the ice nearly enough. He’s a valuable member of the forward group when he’s healthy.

Best Case Scenario

Obviously, the best case scenario is that he stays healthy and remains effective. He was a staple on the second line alongside Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Polkolzin. That trio had amazing chemistry. They played 140:36 together at 5-on-5 and outscored their opponents 12-3, while having 55.48 percent of the shots. They were a dominant line, and if Kapanen can stay in the top six, that’s a win.