Kapanen possesses one of the better two-way games in the draft. He has dynamic puck skills, terrific skating ability and hockey sense. He’s the total package on offense. Kapanen displays an explosive skating stride, quick off the hop. Very agile and quick laterally. He is a fantastic skater, with a seemingly effortless stride that generates healthy levels of speed. Lulls opponents to sleep with a pedestrian-looking stride before he explodes into a full-on rush toward the net or loose puck. He skates very well with the puck, has good hands and skates with his head up, looking for passing options. He also does not shy away from the physical side of the game. Possesses a creative mind. Kapanen sees the ice well and appears to have a great IQ for the game. He distributes the puck effectively and is able to set up his teammates in a variety of ways. Very good playmaking ability, and he also has a sharp shot and the ability to sneak into deadly scoring areas. Kapanen is very elusive on offense, using his lateral shiftiness and soft hands, and he is also very competitive when it comes to pursuing the puck. He loves to play the body on the forecheck. Has impeccable offensive senses and a shot to complement. His accuracy and release are impressive. Kapanen’s one-timer can burn a team in a flash. (May 2014)