St. Louis Blues sign Kasperi Kapanen

“St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the team has signed forward Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year contract worth $1 million,” announced the St. Louis Blues Press Release.

The signing of Kasperi Kapanen seems to signal that the St. Louis Blues are sticking with familiar faces and might not make a big splash in the open free-agent market.

Kapanen, a 27-year-old Finnish native, is poised to further showcase his talent and potentially play a more integral role with the Blues, offering a promising future for the team.

St. Louis Blues

2022-23: 23 games, 8 goals, 6 assists, 14 points.
2023-24: 73 games, 6 goals, 16 assists, 22 points.

Kapanen’s best statistical year came in 2018-19 as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he recorded an impressive 44 points. In that season, he scored a career-high 20 goals, showcasing his talent and potential for the Blues.

From 2018-2022, Kapanen played at his most successful level:

Toronto Maple Leafs

2018-19: 78 games, 20 goals, 24 assists, 44 points.
2019-20: 69 games, 13 goals, 23 assists, 36 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins

2020-21: 40 games, 11 goals, 19 assists, 30 points.
2021-22: 79 games, 11 goals, 21 assists, 32 points.

With 64 hits in 73 games, Kapanen's aggressiveness was on full display this season.

St. Louis Blues: Is the Kapanen signing a signal for upcoming moves?

With the signing of Kapanen, the team now has an affordable option who has the ability to play around 14-16 minutes on the 3rd or 4th line.

It is possible that the signing is an indication of GM Doug Armstrong's plans to strengthen the 2024-25 roster by adding a talented prospect like Dalibor Dvorsky.

Either way, Kapanen can now relax, as he is guaranteed another year under contract, showing the Blues' dedication to his growth and achievements.