Kasperi Kapanen Sentenced in Drunk Driving Case

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TJ Tucker
February 8, 2024 (10:44)

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NHL forward Kasperi Kapanen, who was most recently a member of the St. Louis Blues, has received his sentence in a drunk driving case in his home of Finland. Kapanen was charged following an incident in August of 2023.

Kapanen was not at the courthouse in Finland when his sentence was read. It was not required that he be there. Despite the prosecution asking for a 45-day suspended sentence in jail, it was decided that Kapanen would pay a fine equaling $117,000 USD.

"According to the defense, a conditional prison sentence would hinder Kapanen's employment opportunities and might already affect his current contract. The defense proposed that Kapanen be fined and appealed to the great publicity the case would receive." - Yle.fi

Kapanen was initially a first-round draft pick of the PIttsburgh Penguins in 2014, but he broke into the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs when he was traded there in 2015 as part of the Phil Kessel exchange. He was traded back to Pittsburgh in 2020. In February of last year, Kapanen was put on waivers by the Penguins, and picked up by the St. Louis Blues.

Kapanen has not played for the Blues since January 15. He's been out since then with a lower-body injury. There's no word on an official return date. When he was initially charged in September of 2023, Kapanen released the following statement:

"Last month I made a mistake that is unacceptable. I take full responsibility for my actions. I apologize to my family, the Blues organisation, my teammates and supporters. I understand the seriousness of my mistake and I will do everything in my power to regain their trust."