Flyers re-sign Kapanen, Chouinard

[Shell]

Flyers re-sign Chouinard, Kapanen
TSN.ca Staff
6/10/2003

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed forwards Eric Chouinard and Sami Kapanen to two-year deals. Terms were not disclosed.

"If Eric comes (to Training Camp) in really good shape after working hard this summer, he is going to get a good shot at playing a lot next season," said Clarke in making the announcement. "He is a very talented young player. We like him and now it is up to him."

"I am very happy," said Chouinard on signing his new contract. "Since I first got here, everything has gone good and the organization has treated me very well. I really love it here. I like the organization and my teammates, so to sign a two-year deal is something that makes me very happy."

Chouinard, 22, recorded four goals and four assists for eight points and eight penalty minutes in 28 regular season games for the Flyers this past season. He was acquired by the Flyers from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a second round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

In 41 career NHL games over two NHL seasons with the Canadiens and the Flyers, Chouinard has tallied five goals and seven assists for 12 points and eight penalty minutes.

Kapanen, 29, recorded 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points and 18 penalty minutes in 71 games for Carolina and the Flyers this past season. He posted 13 points (4G, 9A) and six penalty minutes in 28 regular season games for the Flyers and 18 points (6G, 12A) and 12 penalty minutes in 43 games for the Hurricanes. In 13 playoff games for the Flyers, Kapanen registered four goals and three assists for seven points and six penalty minutes. He was acquired by the Flyers, along with Ryan Bast, from Carolina in exchange for Pavel Brendl and Bruno St. Jacques on February 7, 2003.

"Sami is an important player on this team," said Clarke in making the announcement. "He played last year with (Jeremy) Roenick and (Tony) Amonte and the speed and effort that Sami has is really important to our team. We certainly want to have a good team and are intending to have a good team. Signing Sami is the first step towards that."

"I'm really excited," said Kapanen on signing a new contract. "I got into town last night and felt like I found a home, so I know that I made the right choice. This is something that I have being looking forward to. This gives me, over the next couple of years, a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup. The expectations on this team are high every year and I am expecting a lot of myself. Last season overall was a little sub-par (for me) and I am looking forward to bouncing back and having a solid year."

[moonstomper]

We certainly want to have a good team and are intending to have a good team. Signing Sami is the first step towards that."

so step two must be getting a new goalie, right?

thats good for Sami, he sounds really happy

[Shell]

LOL Stompy!!

[Jeff O Rocks]

Congrats Sami...hope you have found a good home! :spin:

[Shell]

YAY for Sami :D

Posted on Mon, Sep. 29, 2003
Kapanen finally looks comfortable in Flyers jersey
Associated Press

VOORHEES, N.J. - Sami Kapanen finally feels comfortable playing with the Philadelphia Flyers and it's showing in the preseason.

Kapanen spent his first eight NHL seasons playing with the Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers franchise before he was traded to the Flyers on Feb. 7.

It took a while for him to make the adjustment. He scored only four goals in the final 28 regular-season games with the Flyers.

But in the playoffs, Kapanen rewarded coach Ken Hitchcock's faith in him by producing four goals in 13 games.

The momentum from that stretch has carried over into this exhibition season. The 30-year-old Finnish right wing has been one of the Flyers' most consistent players through five games.

"Last year in the playoffs, his personality came through," Hitchcock said after Monday's practice. "It didn't when he first came in because he was quiet."

Former Hurricanes teammate Keith Primeau was the only player Kapanen knew on the Flyers. Now he's made a number of friends.

"He's got huge spark and spunk to his style," Hitchcock said. "I think it brings a lot to our team. He's really a glue player for our team. He doesn't complain, he plays any role. Quality is everything to him."

Kapanen has helped ignite the success of a checking line that includes Primeau and Donald Brashear.

Part of Kapanen's scoring problems last year stemmed from the Hurricanes' demise. A year after reaching the Stanley Cup finals, Carolina slipped all the way to the bottom of the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs.

Kapanen, who had recorded seasons of 26, 24, 24, 20 and 27 goals in previous years, had just six in 43 games at the time of the trade.

"Mentally it was real hard," he said. "But I saw some light at the end of the tunnel after that trade. I was excited about hockey again. But after playing that long and not scoring goals, I think I lacked confidence.

"I think the playoffs were much better and that gave me confidence coming into this season."

The Flyers rewarded him with a new contract in the offseason.

"If you work for 'Hitch' you're going to be appreciated," Kapanen said. "I'm not the kind of player that can take six or seven minutes off and wait for a chance to score a goal."

[Jeff O Rocks]

Good luck Sami...except when you play the Canes!! :D ;)

[Shell]

Kapanen's scoring ability rises with his confidence
By WAYNE FISH
phillyBurbs.com

VOORHEES - With some players, it's all about confidence. Put Sami Kapanen on that list.

The Flyers' 30-year-old right wing experienced the most frustrating season of his career last season.

After registering at least 20 goals in five straight seasons, Kapanen managed just 10 in a year split between Carolina and the Flyers.

Although Kapanen had been hampered by wrist and groin injuries, he says the real problem stemmed from the 2001-02 playoffs with the Hurricanes.

Carolina made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals but Kapanen wasn't able to contribute much offensively in the postseason, scoring just one goal in 23 games.

Last year he was unsure of himself and the Hurricanes, falling out of the playoff picture, started unloading salary. So Kapanen came to Philly, where things weren't much better at first. He scored just four goals in 28 regular-season games.

In the playoffs, his performance picked up and he registered four goals in 13 games.

So his hopes were high after signing an offseason contract extension. But he started this season with no goals in his first 10 games, so the frustration started again ... at least until Saturday night, when he recorded his first two-goal game as a Flyer in a 7-1 win at Toronto.

"Going back to the 'Canes, playing in the finals and not being able to help the team offensively, I think it was hurting me last season," he said after yesterday's practice. "There was nothing hurting me physically last year, just a lack of confidence."

Coach Ken Hitchcock says offense is not the highest priority when it comes to evaluating Kapanen's contributions.

Hitchcock keeps putting Kapanen into crucial situations because he knows he's fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game.

"I know players put a lot of value in that [goals] because they feel like they're contributing," Hitchcock said. "But for me, whether he scored or not was irrelevant. He has such an impact, first on our team and second on the game. He does so many things well for us. He brings a lot more to the table than scoring goals.

"He's been very nervous in scoring areas because he's overthinking it,'' the coach added. "He creates more opportunities for himself than anyone on the team. He does it with his tenacity and his speed. He's relaxed. Ten days ago, he would have just hammered it somewhere. That same opportunity was there for him in Jersey and he ripped it over the top of the bar. This one [in Toronto] he was patient."

Can one game turn around a season for a player?

"It's been a battle, I've had my chances, even in the Duck game, I just haven't been able to put the puck in the net,'' Kapanen said. "It's frustrating but I finally got a couple goals and I feel good.

"I had high expectations this year and then not having the kind of start I wanted was frustrating.

"I haven't been scoring but I'm still playing with good players and I've been getting the minutes, so I can't complain. I'm trying to work hard, do the other things well and maybe get a couple goals once in a while."

[Rodgloveswitcher]

Good for Sammy. We sure have missed him. I hope that trade doesn't come back to hurt us as bad as the Malik trade..........c'mon Brendl!

[Shell]

To my eyes, Bruno was the best part of that deal!

[Rodgloveswitcher]

To my eyes, Bruno was the best part of that deal!
Sadly, I think you are right. Nothing against Bruno but if Brendl doesn't pan out, we got reamed. :mad:

[StJacquesFan25]

i agree bruno was the best part of the deal as of right now for you guys. brendl is playing down in lowell right now right?

[Jeff O Rocks]

Sadly, I think you are right. Nothing against Bruno but if Brendl doesn't pan out, we got reamed. :mad:

Bend over cause I don't think Brendl will ever be back...I have heard nothing but bad things about his work ethic.. :sad: He is tired and bends over hugging those knees as soon as he takes the ice...he has no endurance.. sad thing because it is easy to see that he has natural talent..

[Stormbringer]

Sadly, I think you are right. Nothing against Bruno but if Brendl doesn't pan out, we got reamed. :mad:

Bend over cause I don't think Brendl will ever be back...I have heard nothing but bad things about his work ethic.. :sad: He is tired and bends over hugging those knees as soon as he takes the ice...he has no endurance.. sad thing because it is easy to see that he has natural talent..

Yeah, I'll never forget seeing Brendl at the training camp...the dude was as slow as a tortoise (and fell quite a bit) but had quite a shot. So far, Brendl's Lowell performance has been three points (2 goals and 1 assist), a +2, and ten penalty minutes. While Brendl's not doing bad, what is going to keep him from being called up is his speed and work ethic...

But about Sami, glad to know he's doing ok in Philly...

Edited for not one BUT two flubs where I said "Bruno" but meant "Brendl"...(does her best Monty Python train conductor) Sorry! :)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

And since we don't have a coach who is capable of appreciating awesome offensive talent if it doesn't come along with superhuman cadiovascular shape Brendl won't even be considered even though there are plenty of NHL scorers who people thought would never be in good enough shape for the NHL (see Brett Hull). :roll:

Sorry, that's just my opinion on the issue.

[Guyute]

yeah, I agree he should be given his shot up here. give him 6 minutes a game, let him work out with Rod, and see what happens. I've watched him for a good bit. he's got better hands than most of the guys on our team, without question.

[StJacquesFan25]

yeah brendl played well here in the minors with the phantomes but he was always haunted by the whole work ethic thing and laziness. and it is ashame because he could be a good player.

as for sami ...he is doing well here and is well liked.

[Jeff O Rocks]

yeah brendl played well here in the minors with the phantomes but he was always haunted by the whole work ethic thing and laziness. and it is ashame because he could be a good player.

as for sami ...he is doing well here and is well liked.

I know he has natural talent....good idea guy to have him work out with Brindy for a while..if that doesn't do it, nothing will..

Great to hear that Sami has found a good home.. :D