Toronto Maple Leafs superstar center Auston Matthews took the ice for the club's optional morning skate on Saturday. But when will he return to game action? The Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] have claimed former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kasperi Kapanen off waivers from the St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/], as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman [https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1858948925077455270]. With the move, the Oilers look to add depth upfront from the waiver wire with the addition of Kapanen. This marks the second time in nine months that Kapanen has been claimed off waivers, with the Blues originally acquiring him from the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/] in February 2023. The forward has struggled to start the 2024-25 season, recording a lone goal in 10 games. After producing six goals, 16 assists, and 22 points in 73 regular season games last season, the 28-year-old has wrestled with productivity. Kapanen has missed some time with an upper-body injury, returning to action against the Washington Capitals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/] on Saturday after being sidelined for four consecutive games. As the Blues have competed in 19 games this season, Kapanen has also been a healthy scratch for five contests – leading to his waiver placement on Monday. The 28-year-old is on an expiring one-year, $1,000,000 million contract and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Had he cleared waivers, he was presumably set to earn regular playing time in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds. Now, however, the right-winger joins the Oilers’ roster but his immediate status regarding whether he’ll play in the NHL or be sent to the AHL (The Bakersfield Condors) remains to be seen. The next step will reflect the Oilers’ decisions concerning his role and how they will see his fit within the organization. Regardless, it’s another fresh start for Kapanen in another Canadian market. If the opportunity proves right, he could fill a specific role in the bottom six as an offensive depth option. The former Maple Leaf tallied 45 goals, 52 assists, and 97 points over parts of five seasons with the team. Across 10 NHL seasons with the Maple Leafs, Penguins, and St. Louis Blues, Kapanen has accumulated 90 goals, 132 assists, and 222 points in both the regular season and playoffs combined.
