Kapanen’s Return Comes as Oilers Coach Searches for a Specific Spark

Kasperi Kapanen is set to return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup on Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators. He’s excited to get back on the ice, but he’s quick to temper expectations. “I’m going to bring some excitement and energy, physically. If you know, I score a goal or two, while doing that, then that’s just a bonus.”

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“It’s not like I’m the answer to all the problems,” Kapanen said, acknowledging the reality of his situation as he knows that the Oilers depth scoring needs to start contributing. He’s returning from an injury-plagued stretch, and as head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed, the winger is “chomping at the bit.”

The Oilers are desperate for bottom-six offense, but Kapanen’s return isn’t being framed as a fix. The Oilers aren’t looking for a savior. They’re looking for energy, pace, and reliability at a time when the team has struggled to find consistency since the Christmas break.

Limited to just six games this season, Kapanen has dealt with multiple setbacks, including a lower-body injury suffered in October and another frustrating tweak during a late-November practice. “It was a nothing play.” He said the latest injury was a fluke issue on the last play of practice. It was highly disappointing, and he snapped in a viral moment of frustration that he later admitted he regretted.

Now healthy, Kapanen gives Knoblauch another option — whether that’s on the forecheck, in-depth minutes, or eventually on the penalty kill. At practice, he skated in the top six. It appears Knoblauch is expecting him to help get that line going.

Kapanen’s return might be coming at the best time. Knoblauch is openly searching for energy, pace, reliability, and urgency, which is what Kapanen brings.

The silver lining of Kapanen’s injury was that his wife was pregnant, so he was able to be around her at a time that was best for the family.

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