Confirmed with Link: Canadiens sign Oliver Kapanen to 3 year ELC

[vokiel]

I wouldn't write him off so fast......
He had a hell of a progression in the last 6 months.

You mean you think he's got a chance to make the team?

 

[Bacchus1]

Great news! Looking forward to seeing him at camp.

 

[Tyson]

You mean you think he's got a chance to make the team?

As good as any other rookie

 

[CanadienShark]

We should have all of our centres figured out now for the next 5+ years. I wouldn't mind an upgrade in the top 6 if it means we move Dach to wing, but we don't need it.

 

[Milhouse40]

You mean you think he's got a chance to make the team?

Probably not as a center and it's still a long shot, but I think he has a chance. He didn't look out of place in the WC playing against NHLer....6 goals in 8 games.

 

[Chili]

Yeah he is only 20 so no need to rush him.
It will be interesting how he and Beck coexist down the road as they are very similiar.

The more good young centres the better, some guys can always shift to the wing. Florida has nine natural centres among their forwards as an example.

 

[McGees]

Him and Beck are very close...too bad Dvorak is wasting that seat this year.

 

[CheldishGamibno]

You mean you think he's got a chance to make the team?

Oof that escalated quickly

 

[BaseballCoach]

Him and Beck are very close...too bad Dvorak is wasting that seat this year.

Dvorak to Chicago for a 5th round pick, which upgrades to a 3rd rounder if he plays 65 games or scores 35 points.

 

[AlexGretzchenvid]

Dvorak to Chicago for a 5th round pick, which upgrades to a 3rd rounder if he plays 65 games or scores 35 points.

Dvorak never goes for that.... Does he?

 

[BaseballCoach]

Dvorak never goes for that.... Does he?

Gets a big role, mentor Bedard, plays in hometown.

 

[Lockin17]

Newhook-Beck-Kapanen
Would be a great 3rd line

 

[Redux91]

Him and Beck are very close...too bad Dvorak is wasting that seat this year.

Well
Since Him and Beck are just 'very close' and not 'ready', we can totally afford 1 more wtv year of Dvorak to let them Simmer 1 more year where they will either be 'even closer' or plain 'ready'

So it could be worse, don't want to chuck them into the fire too early right now since we can help it

But Kapanen has absolutely gone from 'random overseas prospect' to 'keep a close eye on' status in our prospect hierarchy after this season he just had

 

[Milhouse40]

Well
Since Him and Beck are just 'very close' and not 'ready', we can totally afford 1 more wtv year of Dvorak to let them Simmer 1 more year where they will either be 'even closer' or plain 'ready'

So it could be worse, don't want to chuck them into the fire too early right now since we can help it

But Kapanen has absolutely gone from 'random overseas prospect' to 'keep a close eye on' status in our prospect hierarchy after this season he just had

There will be a transition this year for the bottom 6.
Armia, Evans, Pezzetta, Dvorak all on their last year of contract.

 

[Bacchus1]

Probably not as a center and it's still a long shot, but I think he has a chance. He didn't look out of place in the WC playing against NHLer....6 goals in 8 games.

It was encouraging, but iirc, he scored mainly against weaker teams. Didn’t he get a hattrick against Britain?

Encouraging for such a young player, but not as encouraging as having racked up so many points against the top tiered teams.

I look forward to seeing his continued progression and I hope to see him take great strides. I’d love to see him make the team out of camp due to his performance and readiness, but if he has to take another year in Europe to develop, that is great, too.

 

[Vachon23]

Beck may end up playing wing with Kapanen at C on the 3rd and that line would be dominating on faceoffs... having a 3rd line that defends well, wins faceoffs and scores... Roy-Kapanen-Beck in 2-3 years could well be one of the best under 25yo 3rd line in the league.

Change Roy by Florian Xhekaj and that could be a good 4th line

 

[Milhouse40]

It was encouraging, but iirc, he scored mainly against weaker teams. Didn’t he get a hattrick against Britain?

Encouraging for such a young player, but not as encouraging as having racked up so many points against the top tiered teams.

I look forward to seeing his continued progression and I hope to see him take great strides. I’d love to see him make the team out of camp due to his performance and readiness, but if he has to take another year in Europe to develop, that is great, too.

Don't get me wrong he will most likely end in Liiga next year but we never know.....not one single fans thought Struble would be NHL ready this year.

He also had a major performance with 14pts in 13games in the Liiga in the PO.....it's not an easy league to put up these kind of number against men

 

[montreal]

Don't get me wrong he will most likely end in Liiga next year but we never know.....not one single fans thought Struble would be NHL ready this year.

He also had a major performance with 14pts in 13games in the Liiga in the PO.....it's not an easy league to put up these kind of number against men

Norlinder did the same thing in the year before MB brought him over, he is still currently one of the highest scoring U-22 blueliners in the SHL playoffs history.

If you look at Kapanen's season, he's tied for 110th OA all time in points among U-21 players in Liiga's history.

Elite Prospects - Liiga Stats All-time season

All-time/historical regular season stats and leaders per season for Liiga, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more.

www.eliteprospects.com

But in the playoffs he's now among the all time points leaders among U-21 skaters. He was only 1 pt back of Aho and Laine and 3 of Koivu who is still 2nd best in playoff points and 1st in regular season points.

Elite Prospects - Liiga Stats All-time season

All-time/historical playoffs stats and leaders per season for Liiga, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more.

www.eliteprospects.com

So what does it mean? We'll see

 

[The Real Timo]

What kind of player is he? Is he mean and nasty? Can he hurt other players? Can he fight?

 

[montreal]

What kind of player is he? Is he mean and nasty? Can he hurt other players? Can he fight?

he's this kind,

 

[vokiel]

What kind of player is he? Is he mean and nasty? Can he hurt other players? Can he fight?

There are vids of him battling Helenius iirc, and... Well Helenius looks better lol

 

[The Real Timo]

he's this kind,

Thanks.

 

[NewDef]

Change Roy by Florian Xhekaj and that could be a good 4th line

As well. I love the Florian pick.We could be surprised here. Kinda Wilson type of player.

 

[NewDef]

There will be a transition this year for the bottom 6.
Armia, Evans, Pezzetta, Dvorak all on their last year of contract.

I like Evans and would keep him as a winger on the 4th line, able to play up and down the lineup and take important faceoffs on the right side.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Dvorak never goes for that.... Does he?

He's got more value than most of our fan base thinks. He's a trusted center who knows how to play the 200' game and is good on faceoffs. This is not a cap dump if we trade him.

Who knows if Kapanen makes the roster. I think he has a big adjustment to make.