Underrated Oilers Pickup Pays Off In A Big Way

Waiver pickups are often a shot in the dark.

You never quite know what you'll get from them, but expectations are never high. After all, they were waived for a reason, right? But every once in a while, a waiver claim can make the most of his second chance and go on to become a key part of his new team.

That's exactly what's happened with Kasperi Kapanen and the Oilers. Kapanen has been exactly what the Oilers needed since they claimed him off waivers from St. Louis on November 19th.

Whether on the first or fourth line, the 28-year-old Finn has brought much-needed speed, skill, and tenacity to the Oilers' lineup in a depth role.

"He was kind of the player we were looking for," Kris Knoblauch said after Saturday's win over Buffalo. "We wanted a little more speed in our lineup, a little more physicality, and he provides that."

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While he's not expected to add much offence in a mostly fourth-line role, Kapanen has made the most of his opportunities higher up in the lineup during Connor McDavid's suspension.

Kapanen scored his first goal in ten games on Thursday against Vancouver, and followed that up with a slick spin-o-rama move to set up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' tying goal on Saturday. That gives Kapanen 5 goals and 9 points in 27 games with the Oilers, all while playing less than 12 minutes per night.

"To be able to spin like that with that much speed, it's impressive," Nugent-Hopkins said after the game.

Between Kapanen and Corey Perry, the Oilers' fourth line boasts quite a bit more skill and offensive IQ than most. That's by design, and it allowed Knoblauch to move both players up and down the lineup for a different look.

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"He plays our system, our style of hockey," Knoblauch said of Kapanen. "Puck possession, making plays, not just a chip-and-chase forecheck."

After being claimed off waivers twice in three seasons, it doesn't look like Kapanen will be back on the waiver wire any time soon.

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