Multiple Failed Trades Led to Kapanen Deal With Penguins [Report]

According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the trade that saw Kasperi Kapanen move to the Pittsburgh Penguins was not the first and only trade proposal being worked on by Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas. In fact, it was the one deal Dubas could make after talking to a number of other teams about what it was he was looking for in return.

LeBrun writes for The Athletic (subscription required):

According to sources, the Leafs spoke to the likes of New Jersey, Nashville, Anaheim, Minnesota, Chicago and Carolina about Kapanen, signed to a reasonable deal at a $3.2-million AAV and controllable overall for three more years (he’s RFA at the end of the deal).

LeBrun said that the key to the deal for the Leafs was the first-round pick and that they had zeroed in on a few teams that had one to give. Dubas first tried getting the 13th overall pick back from the Hurricanes, a source said. Carolina was interested in Kapanen but felt that price was far too steep.

There was no way the Ducks were going to move the 6th overall selection for Kapanen and there was some talk that the Devils might be willing to deal away the No. 20 pick (they have No. 7, 18 and 20), but the Devils bailed when it was learned the Leafs also wanted good prospect.

Similarly, the Wild weren’t going to give up the 11th overall pick and Edmonton wasn’t interested in moving No.14. Montreal was the same, the 16th pick was a non-starter.

Related: Kapanen Reacts to Being Traded By the Maple Leafs

So Why Did Pittsburgh Do The Deal?

One would have to wonder, if so many teams were unwilling to move their first-round pick in a deep draft, why did the Penguins do so? The belief is that this is the final year the Penguins believe they have a chance to really ‘go for it’.

LeBrun writes:

And listen, I get it from the Penguins’ perspective. They’re going all-in one last time around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. And the belief with the Penguins is that Kasperi Kapanen can take his offensive production up a notch with a bigger, top-six role in Pittsburgh.

And hey, if the Penguins win the Cup a year from now, who cares what price they paid in this deal, right?

We’ll see if that gamble pays off. The Penguins could look like geniuses here. Or, they could crash and burn and every other team that balked at giving up a first-round pick could look wise for walking away.

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