Blues forward scores in home finale, a 4-1 win against Kraken; disappointed in season playing on team he loves
ST. LOUIS -- Kasperi Kapanen had to catch himself momentarily.
The St. Louis Blues forward was asked to how he's tried to navigate the season for him following a 4-1 win against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, the Blues' home finale, and Kapanen paused for a brief second and was honest.
"Yeah, a disappointment," Kapanen said after scoring just his sixth goal and 22nd point in his 72nd game this season. "Probably one of the worst seasons in my pro career. It's been tough, but just trying to stay positive and doing the right things. Not having been scoring or having been getting as many points as I'd like, but I think just trying to be in the moment, play the right way, play hard. I've been trying to pretty much give it my all out there every time. Can't be ashamed of that."
Kapanen, who was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 25, 2023, needed a fresh slate and finished the season with 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 23 games last season.
The 27-year-old, in the final year of a two-year, $6.4 million ($3.2 million average annual value) contract, was hoping for rejuvenated season. When he scored 20 goals in his first full season with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018-19, many thought this could be a steady 20-30 goal scorer in the league, and a new, full season with the Blues presented hope after ending last season well.
It hasn't happened.
Kapanen has been a healthy scratch at times for inconsistent play. But Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said it's not as if Kapanen hasn't put the effort in.
"I think he puts a lot of pressure on himself to create offensively," Bannister said. "With 'Kapi,' the effort's always been there. No complaints about his effort (but) sometimes I think he tries to do too much to try and create offense for himself. I think for him, what I've been impressed with is he brings an effort every game, it's an honest effort, he's very professional on what he does. He's trying to do the right things for his team. When things aren't going well offensively, he's blocking shots, I think defensively he's really tuned in on that side, sacrificed a little bit of the offensive side for the defensive side for his team. I'm sure he's frustrated offensively, but I think he was a good player away from the puck for us this year."
Kapanen is an unrestricted free agent at season's end. The likelihood of him returning is marginal at best, but he's always felt like this was/is a good fit for him.
"Yeah, great situation and I love playing here," Kapanen said. "Obviously we'll see what happens next year, but I do take a lot of pride in being a Blue and putting that jersey on every night. It's been tough to not kind of ... haven't been able to carry my own weight, and I feel like I've let the team down a little bit. But that's sports, that's hockey. Sometimes you have good years and sometimes you don't. You just try to stay positive and play the right way, play hard and I think I've been trying to do that this year."
