Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen's status remains unclear
Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen was not present for the start of the Penguins’ training camp at PPG Paints Arena. That was expected as the native of Finland was still trying to secure a work visa to enter the U.S.
What remains uncertain is if Kapanen will be able to suit up for the Penguins’ season-opening contest on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 13.
Kapanen’s agent, Markus Lehto, expressed optimism his client would have the issue squared away soon.
“Hopefully, Kasperi’s immigration matter will be taken care of by the end of this week,” Lehto said by email early Monday morning.
Acquired via trade Aug. 25, Kapanen was the Penguins’ most notable addition this offseason. He is expected to line up on the right wing of the team’s top line with Sidney Crosby at center and Jake Guentzel on the left wing.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed that we don’t have him here for (the start of) of training camp,” coach Mike Sullivan said via video conference on Monday. “That would have been a great opportunity to try to build that chemistry. Every day in his absence, it makes it a little bit more challenging, but that’s not anything we’re not prepared to overcome. In this unique circumstance, the environment the way it is, I think we have to be prepared to adapt and embrace any sort of challenges that come our way.”
A handful of European players throughout the NHL have experienced similar immigration issues in the United States and Canada as training camps open, including Nashville Predators forward Mikael Granlund, Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin, Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington, Chicago Blackhawks forward Carl Soderberg and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark.
In Kapanen’s absence, versatile forward Evan Rodrigues skated on the top line during the first session of practice that primarily involved players expected to be candidates for the NHL roster.
The team’s lines and pairs during the first day of practices at PPG Paints Arena:
59 Jake Guentzel — 87 Sidney Crosby — 9 Evan Rodrigues
16 Jason Zucker — 71 Evgeni Malkin — 17 Bryan Rust
19 Jared McCann — 14 Mark Jankowski — 18 Sam Lafferty
10 Drew O’Connor — 53 Teddy Blueger — 13 Brandon Tanev
8 Brian Dumoulin — 58 Kris Letang
28 Marcus Pettersson — 6 John Marino
5 Mike Matheson — 4 Cody Ceci
50 Juuso Riikola — 2 Chad Ruhwedel
Goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith practiced with this group.
The top power-play unit included Crosby, Guentzel, Letang, Malkin and Rust. The second unit was composed of Marino, McCann, Pettersson, Rodrigues and Zucker.
The second practice session involved players vying to be part of the taxi squad of reserve players. That group included forwards Anthony Angello, Frederick Gaudreau, Nathan Legare, Sam Miletic, Jordan Nolan, Sam Poulin and Radim Zohorna; defensemen Kevin Czuczman, Cam Lee, Josh Maniscalco and Zach Trotman; and goaltenders Alex D’Orio and Maxim Legace.
Forward Colton Sceviour was excused from practice to attend to his wife as she gave birth.
Forward Zach Aston-Reese did not practice as he is still recovering from offseason surgery to his left shoulder.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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