“Congrats Kappy!” – Forward Kasperi Kapanen inks two-year $6.4 million contract with Penguins, avoids arbitration hearing


“Congrats Kappy!” – Forward Kasperi Kapanen inks two-year $6.4 million contract with Penguins, avoids arbitration hearing

Kasperi Kapanen re-signs with Penguins

NHL forward Kasperi Kapanen penned down a $6.4 million two-year contract with a $3.2 million annual average value, with the Pittsburg Penguins on Thursday. The 26-year-old had become a restricted free agent but his signing with the Penguins helped him avoid an arbitration hearing on July 30. 

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In the last season, Kasperi had 32 points with 11 goals and 21 assists in 79 games and 3 assists in 7 Stanley Cup playoff games. He was selected by the Penguins during the 2014  NHL Draft as a first-round pick. Played with both the Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs, he recorded 152 points in 321 regular-season games and 13 points in 38 playoff games.

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The Penguins re-signed Kasperi Kapanen

Kasperi Kapanen re-signs with Penguins
Kasperi Kapanen re-signs with Penguins

After his 2014 draft by the Pittsburg Penguins, he was traded to the Maple Leafs in 2015. Five years later he was traded back to the Penguins. His NHL debut came against Tampa Bay Lightning on 29th February 2016, as part of the Leafs. He also contributed to the international field where he scored the game-winning goal in OT against Russia to win the gold in the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

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Apart from the Penguins’ recent deal with Kasperi, they also re-signed defenceman Kris Letang to a 6-year $36.6 million with $6.1 million AVV, penned on July 7, and center Evgeni Malkin to a 4-year $24.4 million with $6.1 annual average value, signed on July 12. The Penguins finished 3rd in the Metropolitan Division last season and lost to the Rangers in the Eastern Conference, as per nhl.com. The team has qualified for the playoffs for 16 straight seasons, the longest current streak in the NHL.

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