As per a few reports Tuesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs have traded forward Kasperi Kapanen in a multiple players and picks deal to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The full details of the trade was listed by Rob Rossi and is as follows:
Details for Penguins:
- RW Kasperi Kapanen
- D Jesper Lindgren
- LW Pontus Aberg
The Maples Leafs getting:
- 2020 Rd 1 pick (15 overall)
- LW Evan Rodrigues
- C Filip Hallander
- D David Warsofsky
With both teams officially out of the playoffs this trade became possible and it clears up space for the Maple Leafs who were heavy at the forward position and were going to need room to make some deals and improve their defense. It also gives them a first round pick (Marleau deal with Carolina sent theirs away.)
The Leafs now have ~$7.791 million in salary cap space with RFAs Ilya Mikheyev, Travis Dermott, and Frederik Gauthier to sign. Rodrigues is an RFA, but there is speculation the Leafs will not to qualify him, making him a UFA.
The Maple Leafs Did Well Here
For the Leafs to pick up both a first-round pick and Filip Hallander in the deal is impressive. Hallander is 20 years old, a true power-forward, and the 2nd or 3rd best prospect in the Penguins system.
And as Dimitri Filipovic notes, the Leafs picked up four assets ((pick, prospect, useful player, cap space) in a trade where it was obvious the team was in dire need to move someone.
Finally, this deal really helps alleviate some pressure on Dubas to move one of the big four forwards. He still might, but he now has wiggle room to come up with some more creative options.
In a deep draft, that 15th overall pick going to Toronto could turn out to be key.
What the Penguins Are Getting
For the Penguins, they must believe that Kapanen’s skills have been somewhat hidden in Toronto behind the big four and that he’ll be a difference maker. Penguins GM Jim Rutherford: “Kasperi is a good, young player that brings speed to our lineup and plays the way we want to play. Having previously drafted him, we know him as a player and feel he can improve our top-6.”
At just 24 years old, the right-winger will have a chance to get back to the 20-goal mark playing along side either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. He’ll need to take another step from last season however as he tallied 13 goals and 36 points in 69 games,
Kapanen is returning to the team that drafted him 22nd overall in 2014. He was traded to the Leafs as part of the deal that sent Phil Kessel to the Penguins.
Next: Insider Says Only One Way Toronto Moves Kapanen
