Penguins Sign Kapanen to Two-Year Deal

The Penguins have signed forward Kasperi Kapanen to a new two-year deal for $6.4 million. The average annual value, $3.2 million, is same he earned on his most recent contract.

Frankly, in the wake of the greatest vanishing act since Houdini, I think it’s a bit of a gamble. Following a solid first season with the Pens in which he tallied a highly respectable 11 goals and 30 points in 40 games (an impressive 60-point pace over a full slate) Kappy literally fell off a cliff in 2021-22. Early season struggles morphed into total offensive stagnation and regression in the second half to the tune of a paltry two goals and six assists over his final 39 regular-season games. And that with repeated opportunities skating next to Evgeni Malkin on the second line. Indeed, the snake-bitten winger was granted more reprieves than a prisoner on death row.

Even worse, the flying Finn’s effort dried up as well. There were plenty of games when I had to do a double-take to make sure he was in the lineup. He was that invisible on the ice. A virtual empty sweater.

In some ways he reminded me of one-time Pirates phenom Gregory Polanco. The tools were there. You kept waiting for him to break out. But aside from a mild upswing down the homestretch in the playoffs, he never did.

Kappy openly admitted he’d lost his confidence. From a personal standpoint, I know only too well how a loss of mojo can affect your performance. Years ago, I was mired in a slump of epic proportions…in slo-pitch softball. (Yes, slo-pitch softball.) I overthought everything. After a while, even the simplest elements of my swing became mechanical and robotic. Nothing came easily and naturally.

Maybe I’m projecting. But I think No. 42 went through a similar nightmare last season.

That said, I would’ve been sorely tempted to move on from Kapanen. However, I fully understand why Ron Hextall and Co. didn’t. The team has a considerable investment in him (in a way two first-round picks). The talent is there, along with world-class speed (rarely seen last season), size and a sizzling shot. When he’s on, Kapanen does everything with a breathtaking crispness and surety, along with a touch of elan.

In a word, he’s fun to watch.

Let’s just hope he’s ‘on’ a whole lot more this season.