St. Louis Blues Place Speedster Kapanen On Waivers; Might He Bolster Islanders Struggling Fourth Line?

On Monday, the St. Louis Blues positioned ahead Kasperi Kapanen on waivers.

The 28-year-old speedster solely had one objective in 10 video games this season whereas averaging 11:19 minutes per sport.

Kappanen, who performed for Islanders basic supervisor Lou Lamoriello in Toronto, signed a one-year, $1 million deal this previous summer time in St. Louis after having 14 targets and 22 assists via 96 video games with the Blues since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins off waivers through the 2022-23 season.

With the Islanders nonetheless lacking two-thirds of their prime line, that is offered extra alternatives for depth gamers.

However sadly for the Islanders, the fourth line of Matt Martin, Kyle MacLean, and Oliver Wahlstrom have struggled to contribute.

When this trio has been on the ice (25:49), the Islanders have been outshot 16-5, outchanced 17-1 and outscored 2-1.

Wahlstrom has only one objective and one help in 14 video games, with solely 4 hits, averaging 9:33 TOI. Whereas Martin solely has one help in seven video games, he has 13 hits in 7:13 ATOI.

MacLean has absolutely struggled together with his rotation of linemates, with simply two assists and 24 hits, averaging 9:55 in 18 video games.

Hudson Fasching, the present thirteenth ahead, has no factors with one hit in 5 video games, averaging 6:50 TOI.

Kapanen has averaged extra minutes than all 4 of those gamers and has penalty-kill expertise, enjoying over 90 minutes on the Blues’ shorthanded unit final season.

Might Kapanen present some much-needed velocity for MacLean at one of many wing positions?

Groups have till 2 PM ET on Tuesday to make the declare.

Kapanen would simply should shave and get a haircut.

In keeping with Puckpedia, the Islanders have $8.081 million in obtainable cap house. Two gamers—Mathew Barzal and his $9.15M and Anthony Duclair and his $3.5M —are on long-term injured reserve.

Nonetheless, they presently have a 23-man roster, so somebody will should be waived or despatched all the way down to Bridgeport to make this declare work.

Luckily for the Islanders, evidently defenseman Alexander Romanov might be again within the lineup in opposition to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, which implies defenseman Travis Mitchell, who was filling in because the seventh defenseman the final two video games, can return to the AHL.

Drawback solved.

Realistically, when everyone seems to be wholesome, it is greater than doubtless that MacLean can be the one one on the present fourth line to remain within the lineup.

Until Kapanen makes himself immovable from the lineup, he, too, may discover himself on the skin trying in. Given their struggles proper now, Kapanen may convey further velocity, one thing that head coach Patrick Roy’s system loves and longs for.