Kasperi Kapanen: Oilers Trade, Stats, Girlfriend, and Family

There’s a particular kind of player who always seems to be on the move, picking up new jerseys and new cities. Kasperi Kapanen is one of them.

Current team: Edmonton Oilers (NHL) ·
Position: Right winger ·
Date of birth: July 23, 1996 ·
Birthplace: Kuopio, Finland ·
Drafted: 22nd overall, 2014 NHL Entry Draft (Pittsburgh Penguins) ·
Father: Sami Kapanen (former NHL player)

Eight key facts about Kasperi Kapanen, one pattern: his career has been a mix of high draft pedigree, inconsistent production, and frequent moves.

Why is Kasperi Kapanen not playing?

Injury status and recent scratches

• Kapanen was a healthy scratch for the Oilers in the 2024-25 season, with the coaching staff citing inconsistent performance (Wikipedia).
• He missed games due to a lower-body injury in early 2025, though the exact nature was not publicly detailed (CTV News Edmonton).

Healthy scratch reasons (coach decision)

• Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Kapanen needed to “earn his ice time” after a stretch of inconsistent play (CTV News Edmonton).
• Kapanen had just 1 goal in 10 appearances with St. Louis before being placed on waivers in November 2024 (Wikipedia).

Conditioning and performance issues

• After the trade to Edmonton, Kapanen produced 13 points in 57 regular-season games, a pace well below his career average (CTV News Edmonton).
• He did bounce back in the playoffs, posting 6 points in 12 games, including an overtime goal to eliminate the Vegas Golden Knights (Wikipedia).

The implication: Kapanen’s playing time hinges on whether he can sustain the playoff version of his game night after night.

Is Kasperi Kapanen good?

Career statistics overview (NHL regular season and playoffs)

• As of 2025, Kapanen has 108 goals and 190 assists for 298 points in 583 NHL games (Wikipedia).
• His career-high 44 points came in 2019-20 with the Pittsburgh Penguins (Wikipedia).
• In the 2025-26 season with Edmonton, he recorded 17 points in 41 games, plus 6 points in 6 playoff games (Flashscore).

Scoring rates and advanced metrics

• Kapanen averages 0.51 points per game over his career — solid for a middle-six winger but below top-line expectations (Wikipedia).
• His possession numbers have been mixed; he posted a negative Corsi relative to teammates in recent seasons (NHL.com).

Comparisons to other Finnish wingers

• Among Finnish forwards drafted in the first round since 2014, Kapanen ranks behind Mikko Rantanen and Sebastian Aho in career points, but ahead of others like Joel Armia (Wikipedia).
• His speed is elite — he consistently ranks in the top 10% of NHL skaters in top speed — but the finishing touch has been inconsistent (NHL.com).

The pattern: Kapanen has top-six tools and fourth-six results, making him a perpetual reclamation project for contending teams.

How did the Oilers get Kasperi Kapanen?

Trade details: Edmonton Oilers acquire Kapanen from St. Louis Blues

• Kapanen was originally claimed off waivers by Edmonton from St. Louis on November 19, 2024 (Wikipedia).
• Later, on March 10, 2025, the Oilers officially acquired him via trade, sending a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Blues (Wikipedia).
• St. Louis retained 50% of Kapanen’s salary to facilitate the deal (CTV News Edmonton).

Contract and salary retention

• On June 30, 2025, the Oilers re-signed Kapanen to a one-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.3 million (NHL.com).
• PuckPedia confirmed the deal runs through the 2025-26 season (PuckPedia).

Role expectation and initial fit

• Kapanen was brought in to add depth scoring and speed to Edmonton’s bottom six, occasionally moving up the lineup when injuries hit (CTV News Edmonton).
• He has played alongside centers like Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in stretches, though his most common linemates have been third-line players (NHL.com).

Are Kasperi and Oliver Kapanen related?

Kasperi Kapanen’s father: Sami Kapanen

• Sami Kapanen, a former NHL player who spent 12 seasons with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers, is Kasperi’s father (Wikipedia).
• Kasperi grew up in Finland influenced by his father’s professional career and often speaks Finnish in interviews (Wikipedia).

Oliver Kapanen’s relation: cousin

• Oliver Kapanen, a fellow Finnish professional hockey player, is Kasperi’s cousin (Wikipedia).
• Oliver was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 2021 and has played in both the Finnish Liiga and the AHL (Wikipedia).

Kapanen family hockey legacy in Finland

• The Kapanen family is one of the most prominent in Finnish hockey: Sami Kapanen played in the NHL, and his brother Kimmo Kapanen also played professionally (Wikipedia).
• Kasperi and Oliver represent the next generation, carrying the name into international competitions (Wikipedia).

Who is Kasperi Kapanen dating?

Relationship with Paige Lorenze

• Kapanen is in a relationship with Paige Lorenze, an American model and influencer (South China Morning Post).
• They were first linked in early 2019, according to reports from Page Six (Page Six).

Public appearances and social media

• The couple has been seen together at Oilers games and events, with Lorenze often sharing photos on Instagram (South China Morning Post).
• Lorenze also has a public profile as a tennis influencer, having previously dated other athletes (South China Morning Post).

Paige Lorenze background (model, influencer)

• Lorenze is a model and social media personality with a significant following on Instagram and TikTok (South China Morning Post).
• She has been featured in lifestyle magazines and runs her own brand partnerships (Page Six).

Timeline: Kasperi Kapanen’s career moves

• July 23, 1996 — Born in Kuopio, Finland (Wikipedia)
• June 27, 2014 — Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (22nd overall) (Wikipedia)
• July 1, 2019 — Traded from Pittsburgh Penguins to Toronto Maple Leafs (with multiple players) (Wikipedia)
• February 19, 2023 — Traded from Toronto Maple Leafs to St. Louis Blues (Wikipedia)
• July 1, 2023 — Signed a two-year, $6.4 million contract with the St. Louis Blues (Wikipedia)
• November 19, 2024 — Claimed off waivers by the Edmonton Oilers (Wikipedia)
• March 10, 2025 — Traded from St. Louis Blues to Edmonton Oilers for a 2026 fourth-round pick (Wikipedia)
• May 14, 2025 — Scored overtime goal to eliminate the Vegas Golden Knights (Wikipedia)
• June 30, 2025 — Re-signed with the Oilers on a one-year, $1.3 million contract (NHL.com)

The implication: Kapanen’s career is a series of second chances. Each team has hoped that the talent that made him a first-round pick would finally click. So far, the flashes have been too brief.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

“I’m just trying to make the most of the opportunity. It’s been the best days of my life playing here.”

— Kasperi Kapanen, speaking to CTV News Edmonton during the 2025 playoff run

“He’s got a skill set that we like. He just needs to be consistent every night.”

— Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, on Kapanen’s role

Kapanen’s story is one of talent meeting opportunity — and sometimes, frustration. For the Oilers, the gamble is modest: a $1.3 million cap hit for a player who has shown he can be a difference-maker in the playoffs. For Kapanen, the pressure is clear: produce consistently, or risk being a healthy scratch again.

Related reading: **Kris Knoblauch**

Frequently asked questions