Blues' Kapanen facing alcohol-related driving charges

St. Louis Blues forward Kasperi Kapanen faces alcohol-related driving charges after an incident in Finland in August, the team confirmed Thursday, per NHL.com's Lou Korac.

"Last month I made an unacceptable error in judgment and take full responsibility for my actions," Kapanen said in a statement. "I offer my apologies to my family, the Blues organization, my teammates, and the fans. I understand the severity of my mistake and am committed to doing everything I can to earn back their trust."

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong also commented on the situation.

"Today we became aware of the incident involving Kasperi and I have spoken with him and his agent," Armstrong said. "We are disappointed in his lapse in judgement and are entrusting him to make the necessary changes to avoid putting himself in a similar situation in the future."

The Blues claimed Kapanen off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. He recorded 15 goals and 19 assists in 66 games between the two clubs.

An eight-year veteran, Kapanen has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in his 387-game career.

He has one year remaining on his contract with a $3.2-million cap hit.

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