Kapanen returns to Finland

Underrated Flyers forward Sami Kapanen has elected to finish his career in Finland, signing a contract with KalPa Kuopio. While Kapanen put up solid but rarely all-star numbers in the NHL, it was the small plays he made all over the ice that made him valuable to every team he played for.

Kapanen reminds me of Rangers forward Marty Straka, a smart player who you can throw in at any position. In fact, Kapanen even did a turn as a defenseman in Philadelphia. Unlike Straka, Kapanen never had a Jaromir Jagr to ride shotgun to late in his career. He was mainly a used as a defensive forward by the Flyers.