Niko Kapanen

Niko Kapanen is a Finnish center on Ak Bars Kazan.

Kapanen was drafted by the Dallas Stars in 1998, after scoring 26 points in his third year with HPK. He played two more years in the SM-Liiga, scoring a career high 20 goals and 48 points in '99-00. He joined the Stars in 2001, and played the next four years with club. He was picked up by Atlanta in 2006, and was traded to Phoenix at the trade deadline. He had another solid season with the Coyotes in 2007-08, scoring 10 goals and 28 points, but decided to sign with Ak Bars Kazan in 2008. He won back-to-back Gagarin Cups with the club in 2009 and 2010, scoring 58 points over the course of 107 games.

Kapanen has played at many international competitions for Finland, winning a silver medal at the 2006 Olympics and a bronze at the 2010 Games. He also won bronze medals at the 2000 and 2008 World Championships, and silver medals at the 2001 and 2007 tournaments. In 2004, he won a silver medal at the World Cup, and won his lone gold medal at the 1998 World Juniors.