Report: Leafs and Kapanen Close to a Contract Extension

The Leafs may be close to knocking one RFA off of their list this offseason.

According to Sportsnet reporter Chris Johnston, the Leafs and Kasperi Kapanen are close to a contract extension.

Kapanen is one of three big RFAs that the Leafs need to sign this offseason, along with Andreas Johnsson and Mitch Marner.

While Marner’s talks have been well publicized, and we’ve seen some talk about what Johnsson has been offered, Kappy’s contract talks have been relatively quiet, so there isn’t a lot to go off of in terms of what this contract may look like.

Kapanen is technically in his fourth season with the Leafs, even though this was his first full season, and also his first in a prominent role with the team.

He broke out this year playing alongside Auston Matthews with a 20 goal, 44 point season. He had shown flashes of it in his 2017-18 season in a limited fourth line role, and on the penalty kill, which has evolved into one of his specialities with the team, along with his speed.

Kapanen was originally a 1st round pick with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2014, before getting traded to the Leafs a year later in the Phil Kessel trade.