Hockey Post: What's Happenin', Kapanen?

Sami Kapanen Packs His Bags and Heads Home

After 12 years in the NHL, and five glorious seasons with the Flyers, Sami Kapanen has decided to head home. With his wife and four children, Kapanen is packing up everything and moving from South Jersey, where he has resided since signing with the Flyers in 2003, back to Kuopio, Finland to play for KalPa in the Suomen Mestaruus Liiga (SM-Liiga).

"I want to play at home before I retire from hockey," Kapanen said, in an interview on June 2, 2008. He says he's disappointed that the Cup was not part of his final year in the NHL, but he wants to play at home, professionally, before retiring from the sport entirely. I can see Kapanen in a few years, comfortable in Finland and telling tales of his NHL years to his grandchildren (his kids are all younger then ten, I think, so I guess that'll be more then a few years down the road, but whatever). "Near the end of the season, it was frustrating that I wasn't playing that much, and I needed to evaluate what I wanted to do with the rest of my career. When I met with [Holmgren] a couple days after the season, it was pretty clear what I was looking at next season. It was totally my decision to move on."

But goodness, Philly is going to miss him. Kapanen, since joining the Flyers, has registered 44 goals and 66 assists for 110 points and 70 penalty minutes in 311 regular season games. “Sami has been an integral part of the Flyers organization since joining the club in 2003,” said Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren. “He was a tremendous leader, both on and off the ice, and was one of the hardest working competitors to play for the Flyers. As much as we will miss Sami, we accept his decision and wish nothing but the best for him and his family.” [NHL.com] European hockey is a little different from NHL style hockey; checking and fights are kept to a bare minimum, which will give Kapanen's long-standing injuries to heal completely. This move is also important to Kapanen because he owns 50.5% of KalPa. Sami played four seasons with the KalPa, between 1990-1994. He played for a season with HIFK, then was drafted onto the Whalers in 1995. Ironically, the KalPa which Kapanen loves so much has a defensemen with a very familiar last name. Jussi Timonen, although set to follow his big brother's footsteps onto the Flyers, is a current player on the KalPa team. Jussi has a clear future with both the Phantoms and the Flyers, but he's "not quite where Kimmo was at his age." [NHL.com]

So who's set to take Kapanen's place? You guessed it: Steve Downie.

Is anyone else upset about this? Downie is a firecracker, and a Bully at heart, but that's all his is. His winger position is unjustified, as he spends all of his energy hitting people, and none of puck-handling. His stats are pathetic. Doesn't anyone else remember how Stevens pulled him in the playoffs after that huge mistake against the Pens? He may only be 21, but he's an idiot, and I'd like to see him stay in the AHL where he belongs.

So who else is leaving? Still no official word from Smith, but there's a good chance he will be traded to the Devils, where he can get the paycheck he demands. Jason Smith has been eyeing the Devils, because he loves living South Jersey and his family is comfortable there.

“[Smith] was an emotional leader on our team,” Stevens said. “He played with a lot of heart. It was incredible what he and Hatch went through to help us win.” If Jason Smith has played his final game for the Flyers, he should be remembered as a inspirational one-year captain who helped stabilize a growing team. During the playoffs, Smith (played 17 playoff games) with both shoulders dislocated. [NHL.com]

We'll see. With the salary cap what it is (even if it is upped to $55 million next year, like rumor has it), they seem to be having a hard time putting a quality team together. It makes me wonder how Detroit does it. I think they cheat.

Mina

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Last Hockey Post: May 29, 2008

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