Niko Kapanen

Niko Klaus Petteri Kapanen (born 29 April 1978) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey centre,who last played for HPK of the Finnish Liiga.

Niko Kapanen
Born (1978-04-29) 29 April 1978
Hattula, Finland
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for HPK
TPS
Dallas Stars
EV Zug
Atlanta Thrashers
Phoenix Coyotes
Ak Bars Kazan
HC Lev Praha
Jokerit
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 173rd overall, 1998
Dallas Stars
Playing career 19962017

Playing career

Kapanen was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 6th round as the 173rd overall pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. During the 2005–06 season, Kapanen recorded a career high in goals (14) and points (35). He scored his first career hat-trick on February 9, 2006 against the Phoenix Coyotes in a 5–1 victory.[1]

On June 24, 2006, Kapanen was traded by the Stars to the Atlanta Thrashers, along with 7th round draft pick in 2006, for defenceman Jaroslav Modrý and centerman Patrik Štefan. During his first season with the Thrashers, Kapanen was picked up off the waiver list by the Phoenix Coyotes.[2]

On June 9, 2008, Kapanen left the NHL and signed for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League.[3]

After five seasons with Ak Bars, Kapanen left as a free agent to sign a multi-year contract with Czech club HC Lev Praha of the KHL on August 11, 2013.[4] Hampered by injury, Kapanen had a less than successful regular 2013–14 season with Praha, but redeemed himself in playoffs to post 11 points in 21 games as Lev reached the Gagarin Cup finals.

Kapanen association with Lev was ended after one-year upon the club announcing financial bankruptcy. On July 10, 2014, Kapanen signed a one-year contract with new Finnish KHL entrant, Jokerit.[5]

International play


Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
2006 Turin
2010 Vancouver
World Championships
2011 Bratislava
2001 Cologne
2007 Moscow
2000 St Petersburg
2008 Quebec City
World Cup
2004 Canada
World Junior Championships
1998 Finland

Kapanen had a highly decorated international career with Finland in collecting a medal at every level played. He made his debut as a junior in the 1997 World Junior Championships, claiming a gold medal at the following junior Championships in 1998. At the senior men's level Kapanen competed in 9 World Championships in capturing 5 medals, including a gold at the 2011 World Championships. He twice represented Finland at the Winter Olympics claiming a Silver and Bronze at the 2006 and 2010 tournaments respectively.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1994–95 HPK FIN U18 3116193540
1994–95 HPK FIN.2 U20 63580
1995–96 HPK FIN U18 1066128
1995–96 HPK FIN.2 U20 138152318 13771416
1995–96 HPK SM-l 71010
1996–97 HPK FIN U20 51782 20112
1996–97 HPK SM-l 41691512 104592
1997–98 HPK FIN U20 21120
1997–98 HPK SM-l 488182644
1998–99 HPK SM-l 5314294349 83474
1999–2000 HPK SM-l 5320284840 819104
2000–01 TPS SM-l 5611223320 102130
2001–02 Utah Grizzlies AHL 5913284140 52130
2001–02 Dallas Stars NHL 90112
2002–03 Dallas Stars NHL 825293455 1243712
2003–04 Dallas Stars NHL 6715616 11010
2004–05 EV Zug NLA 4410334324 925735
2005–06 Dallas Stars NHL 8114213536 501110
2006–07 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 60491320
2006–07 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 192798
2007–08 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 7910182834
2008–09 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 5312193122 21191016
2009–10 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 5412152744 2289176
2010–11 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 537313824 923512
2011–12 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 5412273924 122462
2012–13 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 5010182826 1846102
2013–14 HC Lev Praha KHL 22841214 21291129
2013–14 HC Stadion Litoměřice CZE.2 20002
2014–15 Jokerit KHL 609243355 40220
2015–16 Jokerit KHL 5311152638 41238
2016–17 HPK Liiga 497212820 70554
SM-l/Liiga totals 30767126193185 4510243418
NHL totals 3973690126160 1854922
KHL totals 39981153234247 11120446475

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
1996 Finland EJC 50006
1997 Finland WJC 5th 64480
1998 Finland WJC 72572
2000 Finland WC 94374
2001 Finland WC 93148
2002 Finland WC 4th 904410
2004 Finland WC 6th 732514
2004 Finland WCH 61230
2005 Finland WC 7th 71458
2006 Finland OG 82132
2007 Finland WC 90776
2008 Finland WC 92570
2009 Finland WC 5th 773100
2010 Finland OG 60220
2011 Finland WC 92132
2012 Finland WC 4th 101122
Junior totals 18 6 9 15 8
Senior totals 105 26 36 62 58

Awards and honours

Award Year
NHL
NHL YoungStars Game 2003
KHL
Gagarin Cup (Ak Bars Kazan) 2009, 2010

References

  1. "Kapanen scores first Hat-trick". ESPN. 2006-02-09. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  2. "Thrashers lose Kapanen". Atlanta Thrashers. 2006-12-01. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  3. "Kapanen sign with Ak Bars Kazan". Ak Bars Kazan. 2008-06-09. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  4. "Collector of international medals, Kapanen comes to Prague". HC Lev Praha (in Czech). 2013-08-11. Archived from the original on 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  5. "Niko Kapanen agreement" (in Finnish). Jokerit. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
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