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May 27, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen (42) celebrates after he scores an empty net goal to seal the Oilers victory over the Dallas Stars during the third period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Oilers Need Kasperi Kapanen to Step Up This Season

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Jackson Scherger | Last updated Aug 24, 2025 1:35 PM ET

It wasn’t the start to last season Kasperi Kapanen was hoping for, but things surely turned around towards the end. He started the 2024-25 season with the St. Louis Blues, which was his second season with the team. He managed just one goal through 10 games and was in and out of the Blues’ lineup. He was placed on waivers because of this, but it didn’t take long for the Edmonton Oilers to grab him up from the waiver wire.

It was from there that Kapanen became an instrumental part of the Oilers’ lineup. He finished out last season with 13 points in 57 games and was an energizer in the team’s bottom six come playoff time. He provided some much-needed offense as well as some speed and aggressive play to the postseason lineup. This resurgence after a slow past couple of seasons shows that Kapanen can still play at a high level, an d it’s time for him to really show it this coming season.

Kapanen Can Play

As mentioned earlier, Kapanen can still play NHL-level hockey. He was able to join the Oilers’ lineup and immediately find his role as a strong depth piece who knows what it takes to win. Along with that, he is clutch. In tie games or overtime hockey, he is someone who could be trusted to be on the ice and who can even be the difference in the game. All Oilers fans (and most Vegas Golden Knights fans) will remember his heroics in Game 5 of Round 2 in last season’s playoffs, when he refused to give up on the play and stuffed home the series winner to send Edmonton to the Western Conference Final.

OIL COUNTRY HOW ARE WE FEELING?!?

Kasperi Kapanen scores the Subway Canada OT winner in Game 5 to send the Oilers to the Western Conference Final pic.twitter.com/XAKOB2kmUp
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 15, 2025

I’m not the only one who sees his clutch and hardworking play. Kapanen was elevated to the Oilers’ second line for a lot of the 2025 Postseason, playing up with star centre Leon Draisaitl. He recorded six points in 12 playoff contests, including three goals. Those are both career-playoff highs for him. Draisaitl has seen a lot of wingers alongside him, but Kapanen sticking there for quite a few games in the playoffs was a good sign then and is a very good sign for the future of the team.

Oilers Have Holes to Fill

Kapanen was re-signed in an offseason that was much quieter compared to the last couple. While we don’t know for sure yet if that’s a good or bad thing, we do know there are some shoes to fill. Departures such as Connor Brown, Evander Kane, and Viktor Arvidsson leave him to replicate the things they all did. These players that left all have similar traits to Kapanen, so while trying to make up for what was lost in three good players may be hard, the veteran from Finland has what it takes to play a big role on the 2025-26 Oilers.

Along with making up for some missing skill, he may also have to be more of a leader for the younger players coming up this season. The Oilers got a bit younger this offseason, and their bottom six will likely see some new talent come in. As a seasoned veteran, Kapanen has to try to be there for those younger players. He has already been a part of a long playoff run, and he knows what it’s going to take from everyone, so helping out the rookies and call-ups will make a difference as the season progresses.

Time for Kapanen to Prove His Worth

Kapanen has been in the league for a good amount of time and has put in the work; now it’s time to prove his worth once and for all. If he can build on last season, he will be rewarded next summer. He is at the point in his career where it’s time to cash in, get a multi-year deal, and solidify himself as a true player in this league. He was on track for that in his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but s ort of fell off towards the end. Now he has a second chance.

This could be a big season for Kapanen at a pivotal point in his career. He is a valuable player, and it feels like his stock can rise from here. It’s all up to him now.