Penguins assistant GM Guerin: Kasperi Kapanen is 'even better than I thought he'd be'

Pittsburgh Penguins first-round draft pick Kasperi Kapanen isn't even 18 years old and he's already drawing rave reviews from the team.

Assistant general manager Bill Guerin says the 22nd overall selection in June's NHL Draft has a legitimate shot to make the roster.

Asked if his impressions of Kapanen changed after the Penguins recently concluded development camp, Guerin told reporters, "Yeah, they did. They did."

"He's even better than I thought he would be," Guerin said after Saturday's prospect scrimmage. "I was very happy with him. He's just high-end talent, high-end speed. He's a very, very mature kid for his age. Obviously having his father [Sami] playing so many years in the NHL and playing with him and bringing him up that way, he's already a pro."

Kapanen, who turns 18 on July 23, was the top-rated European skater heading into the draft.

But does he have a chance to compete for a roster spot in training camp?

"He definitely does," Guerin said. "And he made it clear that that's what he wants to do. If he's already thinking like that, I love it."

The 6-foot, 181-pound native of Finland played the last two seasons in the Finnish Elite League (SM-liiga). 

He scored 29 points in 36 games in 2013-14, and registered 14 points in 47 games during the 2013-14 regular season. He added six goals and two assists in eight playoff games over the two campaigns.