Toronto Maple Leafs‘ rookie right wing prospect, Finnish-born Kasperi Kapanen(42) was permitted to play the 2015 World Juniors’ Championship hosted in Helsinki.
He would score the overtime goal to solidify his country’s second win in the tournament in three years.
Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#22 overall), he was a piece of the puzzle in the Phil Kessel trade.
He actually appeared in 2014 training camp and was a late cut before being sent back overseas to continue his development.
It was his second season in Liiga with KalPa and he even appeared in 13 games with the team as a 16-year old, while playing under 20 junior hockey.
He returned at the end of the season to join Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he picked up a goal and an assist in his first 4 AHL games, then made even further strides in the postseason notching another 3 goals and 2 assists in 7 contests.
At 5’11” 180 lbs. he isn’t exactly power forward size yet but plays a swift skating, great puck control style game.
He has yet to score his first recall to the big club but with affiliate Toronto Marlies he has 5 goals and 5 assists with a +6 rating in 17 games with the league’s top team.
No doubt the 19-year has a bright future as a goal-scorer and his opportunity to prove it at the highest level may come soon.
He is also the son of former 13-year NHL veteran mini-might Sami Kapanen, which makes this one another good hockey story.