Kapanen skates in full-contact practice
Return to lineup still not determined
Speedy 24-year-old winger Kasperi Kapanen took another noteworthy step in his recovery Wednesday, when he skated in a full-contact capacity.
Kapanen, who has not played since March 24, did not take first-team reps during line rushes. Instead, he was sprinkled into the workflow on the third and fourth lines. That’s often, but not always, an indication that a player might need a few more practices before they are fully cleared. He also joined the Penguins’ second power- play unit later in practice.
“I feel good. I feel like myself,” Kapanen said. “Whenver it’s a foot injury, we take extra precaution.”
Kapanen was initially injured when a clearing attempt hit him in the boot. He went down in obvious pain in the tunnel, returned briefly and then left the game for good.
To this point, there is no specific timetable for a return — at least not one Kapanen nor coach Mike Sullivan would reveal publicly. But on the NHL’s April 12 trade deadline day, general manager Ron Hextal said he anticipated Kapanen would miss about 10 to 14 more days.
Based on that timeline, Kapanen’s return doesn’t seem too far off.
One complicating factor is that the Penguins are playing so many games in such a short period of time. They have games Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.
“There’s not going to be an ideal time when we give Kappy a nod and put him back in the lineup,” Sullivan said. “But when that time comes, he’s going to have to — to a certain extent — get the timing and conditioning back through the games.”
For a team that appears poised for the postseason, getting Kapanen back is just the first step. Getting him up to speed by the time the puck drops for the first round of the playoffs is the bigger concern.
Acquired this offseason from Toronto in exchange for a package that included a first-round pick, Kapanen’s debut was delayed due to ongoing visa issues in Finland. When he got to the United States, Kapanen bounced around various lines initially. But in the weeks leading up to his injury, Kapanen began to show true chemistry with Evgeni Malkin.
It wasn’t so much one player elevating the other as it was both players working together to become greater than the sum of their parts. That’s the sign of true chemistry.
In the 12 games before Malkin went down with a lower-body injury, the big Russian center had racked up 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists). Meanwhile, Kapanen tallied 12 points in the dozen games before Malkin was forced out.
But just as it seemed both players had begun to scratch the surface of what that tandem might eventually become, they were both injured.
Malkin has resumed onice work but did not take part in Wednesday’s practice.
“That’s hockey,” Kapanen said. “Unfortunately, I felt like me and Geno were really meshing together and playing well. We were hot. When you feel that way, you want to be able to play. Just bad luck on our part.”
With role players stepping up and others taking advantage of unexpected opportunities, the Penguins have put together an impressive record while Kapanen has been out. Including the March 24 game that he left due to injury, the Penguins now are 10-3-1 without him.
“A lot of guys have been stepping up and been major and been key for the team,” Kapanen said. “It’s always a good thing to see guys with confidence out there.”
All the injuries have helped the Penguins feel more comfortable about their depth than they initially had previously. But now, with just 10 games remaining before the playoffs, it will be critical for the Penguins to get some of that firepower back in their lineup if they’re going to emerge from the first two rounds of the playoffs to represent the East Division in the semifinals.
Kapanen is a key piece of that puzzle.
“Once I come back, I just want to start where I left off,” Kapanen said. “I feel like I was playing my game. I’m going to come with a lot of energy. I’ve been watching a lot of games now. You never want to do that. Hopefully I’ll be back soon.”