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Kasperi Kapanen eyeing return to Oilers lineup as early as Tuesday
Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Jan 4, 2026, 17:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 4, 2026, 17:20 EST
Kasperi Kapanen is coming back.
The Edmonton Oilers forward will return to the lineup this week, as soon as Tuesday, according to head coach Kris Knoblauch.
Kapanen returned to practice on December 31st, and reports are optimistic that he’ll be game-ready soon.
“He’s getting very close, and if it’s not Tuesday, probably Thursday. But definitely sometime this week,” said Knoblauch during his media availability on Sunday. “Gotta see how the practices go. But I know he’s champing at the bit. He wants to play. We’d like to have him back.”
It’s been a frustrating season for Kapanen, who’s played just six games earlier this year, suffering a lower-body injury on October 19 against the Detroit Red Wings.
In late November, Kapanen was eyeing a return, but suffered a setback at practice, forcing him out for five to six weeks.
He admitted he acted a bit like a “drama queen” and regretted attacking the stick rack in the viral clip from practice, but he’s excited to be coming back.
“It’s never fun to be out of the lineup, and obviously hurting it in practice is very frustrating,” said Kapanen on Sunday. “But I think mentally, probably the hardest part is just not being on the ice and then not going on the road with the team.
“It was literally the last play of practice, too… I felt my leg get caught in the ice again, and I kind of twisted it. Obviously, I saw the video afterwards, and I felt bad for my reaction, but that kind of came out with the frustration and disappointment, obviously, being that close to coming back to line up.”
Kapanen was claimed off waivers last season and played 57 games with the Oilers in 2024-25.
This season, he’s collected two assists in six games.
With Kapanen’s eventual return, the Oilers are getting healthier. Just two other regulars, Jake Walman and Tristan Jarry, are out.
Knoblauch is happy to have another option in the lineup as the Oilers are looking to bounce back after lacklustre performances since the Christmas break.
“It’d be nice when he’s back in the lineup because we know he can help, whether that’s with some energy, a little bit off, and some physicality. Eventually, probably, some penalty killing. He’ll help our team,” said Knoblauch.
The Oilers host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, which could mark Kapanen’s return.
Otherwise, Edmonton travels to play Winnipeg on Thursday, and hosts the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
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