Niko Kapanen

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Niko Kapanen
Niko Kapanen 2013.JPG
Born (1978-04-29) 29 April 1978 (age 46)
Hattula, Finland
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Jokerit
HPK
TPS
Dallas Stars
EV Zug
Atlanta Thrashers
Phoenix Coyotes
Ak Bars Kazan
HC Lev Praha
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 173rd overall, 1998
Dallas Stars
Playing career 1996–present

Niko Klaus Petteri Kapanen (born 29 April 1978) is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre, currently playing for Jokerit of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

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
Silver medal – second place 2006 Turin
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Vancouver
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2000 St Petersburg
Silver medal – second place 2001 Cologne
Silver medal – second place 2007 Moscow
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Quebec City
Gold medal – first place 2011 Bratislava
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2004 Canada
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 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
1995–96 HPK SM-liiga 7 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
1996–97 HPK SM-liiga 41 6 9 15 12 10 4 5 9 2
1997–98 HPK SM-liiga 48 8 18 26 44 — — — — —
1998–99 HPK SM-liiga 53 14 29 43 49 8 3 4 7 4
1999–00 HPK SM-liiga 53 20 28 48 40 8 1 9 10 4
2000–01 TPS SM-liiga 56 11 22 33 20 10 2 1 3 0
2001–02 Utah Grizzlies AHL 59 13 28 41 40 5 2 1 3 0
2001–02 Dallas Stars NHL 9 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2002–03 Dallas Stars NHL 82 5 29 34 55 12 4 3 7 12
2003–04 Dallas Stars NHL 67 1 5 6 16 1 1 0 1 0
2004–05 EV Zug NLA 44 10 33 43 24 9 2 5 7 35
2005–06 Dallas Stars NHL 81 14 21 35 36 5 0 1 1 10
2006–07 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 60 4 9 13 20 — — — — —
2006–07 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 19 2 7 9 8 — — — — —
2007–08 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 79 10 18 28 34 — — — — —
2008–09 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 53 12 19 31 22 21 1 9 10 16
2009–10 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 54 12 15 27 44 22 8 9 17 6
2010–11 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 53 7 31 38 24 9 2 3 5 12
2011–12 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 54 12 27 39 24 12 2 4 6 2
2012–13 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 50 10 18 28 26 18 4 6 10 2
2013–14 HC Lev Praha KHL 22 8 4 12 14 21 2 9 11 29
2013–14 HC Litoměřice CZE.1 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
NHL totals 397 36 90 126 160 18 5 4 9 22
KHL totals 286 61 114 175 154 103 19 40 59 67

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
1997 Finland Jr. WJC 5th 6 4 4 8 0
1998 Finland Jr. WJC 1st 7 2 5 7 2
2000 Finland WC 3rd 9 4 3 7 4
2001 Finland WC 2nd 9 3 1 4 8
2002 Finland WC 4th 9 0 4 4 10
2004 Finland WC 6th 7 3 2 5 14
2004 Finland WCH 2nd 6 1 2 3 0
2005 Finland WC 7th 7 1 4 5 8
2006 Finland OG 2nd 8 2 1 3 2
2007 Finland WC 2nd 9 0 7 7 6
2008 Finland WC 3rd 9 2 5 7 0
2009 Finland WC 5th 7 7 3 10 0
2010 Finland OG 3rd 6 0 2 2 0
2011 Finland WC 1st 9 2 1 3 2
2012 Finland WC 4th 10 1 1 2 2
Junior totals 13 6 9 15 2
Senior totals 105 26 36 62 56

Awards and honours

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

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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