Kapla, 23, posted six goals and 15 assists for 21 points and 22 penalty minutes in 63 games during his first full professional season with Binghamton (AHL). He was initially signed March 28, 2017 after spending the previous four seasons, 2013-17, with University of Massachusetts-Lowell (HE). He appeared in five games with New Jersey at the end of the 2016-17 season. In his senior season, he captained the River Hawks to the 2017 Hockey East Championship. He also received Hockey East All-Tournament Team honors and was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team. The Eau Claire, WI native ranked second among blueliners on his squad with a career-high 30 points, three goals and 27 assists, in 40 games during his final collegiate season. He notched a career-high four assists on Dec. 31 at Dartmouth in the Ledyard Classic Championship Game. Through 152 collegiate games, the left-shooting defenseman has recorded 17 goals and 75 assists for 92 points while accumulating 100 penalty minutes.
During Kapla's freshman season, he was named to the 2014 Hockey East All-Rookie Team and was a member of the River Hawks' 2014 Conference Championship team. He also served as a co-captain during the 2015-16 season. Before attending UMass-Lowell, the 6-0, 200lb. defenseman spent two seasons with Sioux City (USHL) from 2011-13.
