The NHL forward Kasperi Kapanen and his partner Matleena Laakso have announced the birth of their first child, Luka Leander Kapanen. The joyous news was shared by Laakso on her Instagram account, where she also provided details about the baby's birth date, reported to be Thursday. The couple's post quickly garnered a significant amount of likes and congratulatory messages from their followers.

Kapanen, who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers, married Laakso in August 2025. In addition to his new role as a father, Kapanen has been experiencing a mixed season on the ice, contributing 12 points (5 goals and 7 assists) in 19 games so far. However, he has faced injury challenges and is not participating with the Finland national team, Leijonat, for the upcoming Olympics.

With a career total of 546 NHL games played and 234 points scored (95 goals and 139 assists), Kapanen rose to prominence in his earlier years, famously helping the Finnish U20 team clinch a World Championship title in 2016. His personal and professional achievements are closely followed by fans and sports analysts alike, making this announcement of fatherhood particularly significant.