16 Oct 2018 01:45:38
Leafs trade Kapanen
Arizona trades Crouse

Crouse: 21 years old, 11th overall, 87 gp, 6g, 7a, 11:42 atoi, 36 blk, 200 hits, 16 tks, 2 gv

Kapanen: 22 years old, 22nd overall, 61gp, 10g, 6a, 12:05 atoi, 13 blk, 78 hits, 22 tks, 11 gv

Everyone on this site looking through blue and white spectacles. And I’ll admit, I’m one of the worst (look at my username after all) .

These players look very comparable imo. Yet one is consistently called a bust, and the other is considered a success.

Lawson Crouse plays 3rd line on one of the worst teams in the league. He is almost exactly a full year younger than Kapanen, yet has more games played. Both have been healthy scratches in the past, and both have had injuries set them back somewhat.

If Kapanen was on any other team, everyone would be calling him a bust. I still think it’s too early to call Crouse a bust. He may still turn out to be a top six forward if given the chance.

If Nylander re-signs, Kapanen is likely dropped back to third line. As our LW is weaker than our RW, this may be something to consider. We then leave Brown on third line with Kadri in the middle.

Crouse/ Kadri/ Brown could make for a good shut down line with offensive capability.


1.) 16 Oct 2018
16 Oct 2018 05:26:33
I agree it's too early to call either a bust.


2.) 16 Oct 2018
16 Oct 2018 07:19:08
LeafsGM please don’t go grouping all leaf fans together. You’ve been on this site for a few weeks and think you have everyone figured out. Take a step back and read what people post or reply before judging everyone. There are people of every fan base that are bias and there are fans that are level headed. So take your English major and “knowledge is power” crap down a notch. We’re all so lucky to have someone of superior intelligence on this site.


3.) 16 Oct 2018
16 Oct 2018 12:37:50
Kap is better. Speed and skill>>>> big with minimal skill.


4.) 16 Oct 2018
16 Oct 2018 12:47:55
It’s just player preference. I don’t mind bigger physical players, however Babcock game is speed and transition. So a guy like kapanen can play a top 6 role on the team as where I would see Crouse a lot lower in our lineup.

With the hype around Crouse in his draft year (was a top 5 prospect for a bit), I assume people just had higher expectations for him than they did for kappy and therefore it’s easier to call him a bust sooner, fair or not.