Kasperi Kapanen has been traded more often than most NHL players, yet he keeps carving out a steady role. The Finnish right winger, now with the Edmonton Oilers, turned a first-round pedigree into a reliable depth career—and his 2025-26 season showed exactly why the Oilers keep signing him.

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Team: Edmonton Oilers ·
Position: Right Wing ·
Age: 29 (as of 2025-26 season) ·
Draft: 2014, Round 1, Pick 22 (PIT) ·
Height: 6’1″ ·
Weight: 194 lbs

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Finnish right winger, born July 23, 1996 (Wikipedia)
  • Drafted 22nd overall by Pittsburgh Penguins in 2014 (Elite Prospects)
  • Son of former NHL star Sami Kapanen (Wikipedia)
  • Currently plays for Edmonton Oilers (NHL.com)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact future contract value after 2026-27 season
  • Whether he will be traded or re-signed beyond 2027
  • Potential to return to 20-goal form
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • UFA after 2026-27 season; Oilers cap situation will determine extension

The key facts table below compiles Kapanen’s essential biographical and career details into a single snapshot.

Key facts about Kasperi Kapanen — one table covers the essentials.
Attribute Value
Full Name Samu Kasperi Kapanen
Date of Birth July 23, 1996
Birthplace Kuopio, Finland
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
Height 6’1″
Weight 194 lbs
Team Edmonton Oilers
Draft 2014, Round 1, Pick 22 (PIT)
NHL Debut 2015-16 season

How much does Kasperi Kapanen make for the Oilers?

Current contract overview

  • Kapanen signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on June 30, 2025 (NHL.com Oilers player page).
  • He then re-signed on July 1, 2026 for one year at an AAV of $2.6 million for the 2026-27 season (NHL.com Oilers news release).
  • Daily Faceoff reported that the 2026-27 contract represented a 100% increase over his prior $1.3 million salary (Daily Faceoff).

Salary breakdown

PuckPedia lists the 2025-26 deal as a one-year contract worth $1.3 million with no signing bonus and no performance bonuses (PuckPedia). Spotrac confirms the same figure and identifies Kapanen as a UFA in 2026 (Spotrac). CapWages lists the cap hit at $1.3 million with a signing date of June 30, 2025 (CapWages).

Cap hit impact

Kapanen’s $2.6 million cap hit for 2026-27 is a modest figure for a middle-six forward who can kill penalties. The Oilers will have to manage their cap space with other key players, but the team’s official release called the signing a “key depth move” (NHL.com Oilers).

The upshot

Kapanen’s salary doubled after a strong playoff run. For a player who was a waiver pickup less than two years earlier, that’s a clear signal the Oilers see him as a core depth piece.

The Oilers bet on Kapanen’s playoff performance with a contract raise, proving his postseason edge justifies his cap hit.

Is Kasperi Kapanen good?

Career scoring statistics

  • Through the start of the 2026-27 season, Kapanen has played 568 career regular-season games, with 98 goals, 141 assists, and 239 points (NHL.com Oilers).
  • His best season was 2019-20 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, when he scored 20 goals (HockeyDB).
  • In the 2025-26 regular season with Edmonton, he posted 8 goals, 9 assists, 65 shots on goal, 75 hits, and 14 penalty minutes over 41 games (CBS Sports).

Strengths and weaknesses

Kapanen is known for his speed and puck-handling. He has penalty-killing ability and is considered a reliable middle-six forward. However, his production has been inconsistent; he has not reached 20 goals since 2019-20. The Oilers’ official release highlighted his playoff performance: he led the team with four goals in the postseason (NHL.com Oilers).

Role on the Oilers

Kapanen was claimed on waivers from the St. Louis Blues on November 19, 2024 (Wikipedia). He quickly became a regular on the third line and penalty kill. Pro Football Network described his 2025-26 regular-season production as “eight goals, nine assists, 65 shots, 75 hits, 14 PIM over 41 games” (Pro Football Network).

The pattern

Kapanen’s value is tied to his speed and playoff scoring, not his regular-season point totals. The Oilers are betting that his postseason edge outweighs the ups and downs of the regular season.

Kapanen’s playoff performance, not his regular-season numbers, drives his value for the Oilers.

Are Kasperi and Oliver Kapanen related?

Family tree

  • Kasperi Kapanen is the son of former NHL player Sami Kapanen (Wikipedia).
  • Oliver Kapanen is Kasperi’s cousin, son of Sami’s brother Kimmo Kapanen (Wikipedia).
  • Oliver was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 2021 (Elite Prospects).

Oliver Kapanen’s career

Oliver Kapanen, a center, has been developing in the Finnish Liiga and AHL. He is considered a promising prospect but has not yet played in the NHL.

Sami Kapanen’s legacy

Sami Kapanen played 12 NHL seasons with the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers, recording 189 goals and 413 points (Wikipedia). Both Kasperi and Oliver carry the Kapanen hockey legacy from Finland.

Why this matters

The Kapanen name carries weight in Finnish hockey. Kasperi is the most accomplished of the next generation, but Oliver’s development could extend the family’s NHL presence for years.

The Kapanen family legacy, anchored by Sami, now rests on Kasperi’s established NHL career and Oliver’s potential.

What is Kasperi Kapanen’s next contract?

Current contract expiry

Kapanen’s current contract expires after the 2026-27 season. He will be an unrestricted free agent at age 30.

Future contract projections

Given his production, he may command a similar or slightly lower AAV. The Oilers have a history of giving short-term deals to depth players, and Kapanen’s playoff leadership (four goals in the 2026 playoffs, per NHL.com Oilers) could justify a modest raise.

Oilers cap situation

The Oilers will have to manage their cap space with other key players. If Kapanen continues to produce at a 0.4 points-per-game pace, a two-year deal in the $2.5-$3 million range seems plausible.

The trade-off

Kapanen’s next contract will test whether playoff scoring outweighs regular-season inconsistency. For the Oilers, the choice is between locking in a known playoff performer or gambling on a cheaper replacement.

Kapanen’s next contract will depend on whether the Oilers prioritize his playoff scoring over regular-season inconsistency.

Timeline signal

  • – Re-signed with Oilers for one year, $2.6M AAV (NHL.com Oilers)
  • – Signed one-year, $1.3M contract with Oilers (NHL.com Oilers player page)
  • – Claimed on waivers by Oilers from St. Louis Blues (Wikipedia)
  • – Signed one-year contract with St. Louis Blues (Spotrac)
  • – Signed two-year contract with Pittsburgh Penguins (Spotrac)
  • – Played for Toronto Maple Leafs (HockeyDB)
  • – NHL debut with Pittsburgh Penguins (Elite Prospects)
  • – Drafted 22nd overall by Pittsburgh Penguins (Elite Prospects)

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Kapanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player
  • He plays for Edmonton Oilers
  • His father is Sami Kapanen
  • He was drafted in 2014 by Pittsburgh
  • He has 98 goals and 141 assists in 568 regular-season games
  • He signed a one-year, $1.3M deal on June 30, 2025
  • He re-signed for $2.6M AAV on July 1, 2026

What’s unclear

  • His exact future contract value after 2026-27
  • Whether he will be traded or re-signed
  • His potential to reach 30 goals again
  • How long the Oilers will keep him given cap constraints

In their own words

Kappy Hour Extended 🕐✍️

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) via Twitter

Kapanen posted eight goals and nine assists in 41 regular-season games and led the team in the playoffs with four goals.

— Edmonton Oilers official news release (NHL.com)

Kasperi Kapanen has turned a waiver pickup into a key role in Edmonton, and his playoff scoring has earned him a raise. For the Oilers, the choice is clear: keep a proven playoff performer at a reasonable cap hit, or risk losing him to free agency. Kapanen’s next contract will determine whether he cements his status as a core depth forward or seeks a longer-term home elsewhere.

Additional sources

oilersnation.com, rotowire.com, oilersaggr.com

For a deeper look at Kasperi Kapanens injury and salary details, including his recent injury report and the story behind his number 69 ban, check out this detailed breakdown.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Kasperi Kapanen’s cap hit?

His cap hit for the 2026-27 season is $2.6 million, doubled from his previous $1.3 million (Daily Faceoff).

How many goals has Kasperi Kapanen scored?

He has 98 goals in 568 regular-season games through the start of the 2026-27 season (NHL.com Oilers).

Who is Kasperi Kapanen’s father?

His father is Sami Kapanen, a former NHL player with 189 goals and 413 points (Wikipedia).

What teams did Kasperi Kapanen play for?

He has played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers (HockeyDB).

Is Kasperi Kapanen still with the Oilers?

Yes, he re-signed with the Oilers on July 1, 2026 for the 2026-27 season (NHL.com Oilers).

How old is Kasperi Kapanen?

He was born on July 23, 1996, making him 29 years old as of the 2025-26 season (Wikipedia).

What is Kasperi Kapanen’s nationality?

He is Finnish (Wikipedia).