CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Kasperi Kapanen's play through the first two-thirds of the Penguins' season has gotten mixed reviews.
Some people, citing a conspicuous lack of production and, at times, passion, believe it has been an abject disappointment.
Others aren't nearly as charitable.
Last fall, Kapanen was a popular choice to be an "X-factor" for this team, one of the guys whose individual performance could have a profound impact on how the club's season played out.
Uh, no.
Turns out the Penguins have had a pretty solid season -- they're second in the Metropolitan Division and fifth in the overall standings -- despite getting only nine goals and 17 assists in 56 games from Kapanen. That's pretty meager output for a guy who has spent most of 2021-22 in a top-six role -- aside from those occasions when he underachieved his way into the bottom-six -- and is averaging nearly two minutes per game of power-play work.
Even though he is a good skater and has an impressive shot, the most striking feature of Kapanen's game has been his penchant for ending a rush into the attacking zone by peeling off, rather than driving to the net. Still, despite the many flaws and foibles evident in Kapanen's game over the past five months, Mike Sullivan said after practice Sunday that Kapanen still can be a significant contributor, and praised the play of the Danton Heinen-Evgeni Malkin-Kapanen line during the Penguins' games in Tampa and Raleigh last week.
"His game is starting to gain some traction," Sullivan said. "He's using his speed. I thought (the line's) game in Tampa was really good. Their line was terrific all night long, and (Kapanen) was a big part of it. If he keeps utilizing his speed the way he's capable ... he's got to shoot the puck and go to the net. When he does that, I think he's going to help us. I think he's going to score some goals. He's had some pretty good looks, and if continues to get those, I think the puck will go in the net for him."
Although Kapanen does not have a goal in 16 games, he seemed as upbeat Sunday as he has at any point this season, at least when interacting with reporters.
"I think it's going OK (on a personal level)," he said. "The team is doing well, and that's the most important thing. Obviously, I want to contribute and score goals and be a factor out there, but I feel like my game has been trending in a better direction, which is always a positive. But it's nothing I'm going to settle for, obviously."
MORE FROM THE PRACTICE
• Malkin was given a "maintenance day," Sullivan said. He was the only player who had been expected to practice who did not.
• With Malkin missing, Evan Rodrigues did double-duty on power-play drills, working on both units. John Marino and Marcus Pettersson split time on the No. 2 power play during drills.
• Heinen, on dealing with the speculation that swirls, online and elsewhere, as the trade deadline approaches: "Naturally, you hear some of it, maybe, but I try to block it out, try not to look into anything. Just worry about your own business. Don't worry too much about it. Whatever happens, happens."
• Sullivan said, "I would have liked to have seen us with a little bit more pushback when Carolina elevated their game" after the first period of what became a 3-2 overtime loss in Raleigh Friday.
• Goalie Louis Domingue, who has missed the past 18 games after being injured during a game-day skate, participated in the workout, creating the less-than-ideal situation in which there were three goalies and two nets. Sullivan, though, downplayed any problems caused by that arrangement. "Obviously, the priority is that the guys who are playing are going to get what they need, and then we'll work the third guy in," he said.
• Injured left winger Jason Zucker (core muscle surgery) and Mike Matheson (unspecified upper-body) worked out on the ice with skills coach Ty Hennes for about 45 minutes before the team practice. They did not take part in the full workout, and Sullivan said there is no change in either's status. The next step in their rehab would be to take part in a session with their teammates.
