Penguins Nation

Player: Kasperi Kapanen Drafted By: Pittsburgh Penguins (22nd overall) Position: Right wing Final Central Scouting Ranking: No. 1 European skater Height/Weight: 6'0'', 180 lbs DOB: July 23, 1996 (17 years old) Most Recent Affiliation: SM-Liiga (Finland), KalPa   Background Kasperi Kapanen is a prospect who has garnered a lot of attention not only because of his skill, but also because of the fact that he is a third-generation player. His father Sami played for the Philadelphia Flyers early in his career, and Kasperi spent significant time around the team during his father's tenure in Philly. For the past few years, he has played overseas in his hometown of Kuopio, Finland. This season, he tallied 14 points in 47 ...

Is it possible for both teams to come away as losers in the same trade? The Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday proved that it can be done. The Penguins dealt James Neal to the Predators for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling in a deal that makes…that makes both teams…that allows the Predators…that gives the Penguins a… Seriously, what was the point of this trade? Let's look at the potential rationales for why the Predators and Penguins decided to make this deal.   1. The Predators wanted an elite goal scorer Sure, but instead they got James Neal. Here's the thing: Wingers are generally only as good ...

The Pittsburgh Penguins will follow up on their light 2013 draft with an equally thin sheet of picks in the 2014 edition. Jim Rutherford made the 22nd pick of the first round and the didn't pick again until round four with the 113th pick overall. Ray Shero's regime traded the team's second-round pick in the Douglas Murray deal, while Lee Stempniak cost the franchise its third-round selection. Here is an in-depth analysis of the five selections made by the Pittsburgh Penguins in Jim Rutherford's first draft at the helm of the club.Begin Slideshow

As the final hours of speculation dwindle down before the 2014 NHL draft kicks off in Philadelphia tomorrow, general manager Jim Rutherford and his Pittsburgh Penguins are making their last minute considerations as to whom they will select with the No. 22 pick. This year’s selection process is stockpiled with talented wingers, which is good news for the Pens. The club has arguably the top two centers in the league in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, as well as the budding Brandon Sutter on the third line. However, finding the right men to flank them has started turning into an ordeal for ...

While the offseason is a time to look ahead to the future for every NHL franchise, the Pittsburgh Penguins have even more reason to do so this offseason as changes in both the front office and behind the bench have signaled a new direction for the team and its players, present and future. As difficult decisions loom with regard to older free agents such as Brooks Orpik and even players under contract such as James Neal and Marc-Andre Fleury, the Pens will look to their farm system perhaps more than in any recent year as they look to overcome their revamp ...

Many believe that the Pittsburgh Penguins are just a head coach away from Stanley Cup glory. The organization is hopeful that it has found its man in the form of Mike Johnston. According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Pens have agreed to a three-year contract with the longtime Portland Winterhawks coach to replace the departed Dan Bylsma: Johnston spoke about the position and his strategy once he gets the team out on the ice (via the Penguins and Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette): General manager Jim Rutherford also spoke about Johnston (via Molinari): The Penguins also announced some changes to the coaching staff after ...

The Pittsburgh Penguins head into the 2014 NHL draft with new general manager Jim Rutherford at the helm. The arrival of Rutherford and firing of his predecessor, Ray Shero, makes for an interesting storyline this year despite the Penguins holding on to just a single selection in the first four rounds. Steel City residents will be fixated on the draft when it kicks off on June 27 in Philadelphia to see which direction their beloved franchise is heading in. I sifted through a few recent mock drafts from experts to see what they think the Penguins might do on Friday. In each of their ...

While each offseason presents a new set of questions and drama, this postseason seems to have even more than usual in store for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Having now fired both their general manager and head coach after yet another postseason disappointment, the team ownership has chosen a new direction with former Penguin goaltender Jim Rutherford now calling the shots as general manager but they still have not settled on a head coach. With less than two weeks until the NHL Entry Draft and the start of the free-agency signing period, let's take a look at the pros and cons of the top candidates and handicap ...

This offseason was never going to be an easy one for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Had they won the Stanley Cup or even appeared in the Final, then perhaps struggling against the cap while trying to retain players like Matt Niskanen wouldn't be so hard to watch. That's part of doing business when you win the Cup, after all. Everyone wants your players. It's what made Dave Bolland attractive to the Toronto Maple Leads and why the New York Rangers pursued Brad Richards so heavily. Cup rings speak volumes in the locker room and can change the complexion of a franchise. That isn't the ...

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a lot of work to do this offseason. Filling the vacant general manager role with Jim Rutherford was one more objective they crossed off their list. Attention now has turned to finding Dan Bylsma’s replacement behind the bench. While the front office is getting a facelift, I’m here to look into possible free-agent acquisitions that the team could make to better itself where it really matters: on the ice. The Pens are tight on cap space, and many have speculated trading away and letting players walk in free agency, which would make room for some new faces. The club is ...