Prospect Info: Oliver Kapanen, RHC, KalPa U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 64th Overall

[Kudo Shinichi]

Kapanen has 7g and 15 pts in his last 18 liiga games

 

[Nevins]

Kapanen is seventh in the Liiga under 21 in scoring.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

He is definitely a player that provides much more than his points suggest. He was used in all situations at the WJC and was captain too if I remember correctly. Still you do need to find a way to chip in offensively if you want to be a regular NHLer. I'm curious about how Mysak develops because I always considered them comparable prospects.

I have never been a big Mysak supporter as his feet are slow and his hands are average at best. I basically view Mysak as a potential 4th liner but it would be a huge bonus if he became a competent 3rd liner. In both Beck and Kapanen's case, it is easy to project them as 3rd liners but they could disappoint and be 4th liners.....they are basically a tier above Mysak imo.

 

[yianik]

Never seen him play. Stat wise someone said he had 1 assist in his 1st 9 games.

He has 7 goals and 16 points in 27 games and is 7th for under 21 in points.

So in his last 18 games he has 7 goals and 15 points. Young guy lives as a prospect.

 

[montreal]

I can't say I've ever been too impressed with him but good to see him finally getting points as he is red hot with 7 in his last 3. If he keeps producing he could match Ylonen's 56 points in 127 games, as he's at 47 points in 100 games. So Kapanen now has a slightly higher ppg (Ylonen .44/Kapanen .47)

He doesn't have the skating/speed/shot of Ylonen but as a center and plays a solid defensive game should certainly get him a contract I just don't know if it will be this off-season or do they let him stay one more year to see if he can find some consistency.

That said I haven't seen that much of him as Liiga is one of the toughest leagues to get streams over the last few years so I wouldn't mind if he did come over as his contract in Liiga at least for now is slated to end in April so he could join Laval if they make the playoffs either way they don't have to sign him to an NHL contract as if they do he likely will be in Laval since it would count against the 50 contract limit.

 

[Ezpz]

I can't say I've ever been too impressed with him but good to see him finally getting points as he is red hot with 7 in his last 3. If he keeps producing he could match Ylonen's 56 points in 127 games, as he's at 47 points in 100 games. So Kapanen now has a slightly higher ppg (Ylonen .44/Kapanen .47)

He doesn't have the skating/speed/shot of Ylonen but as a center and plays a solid defensive game should certainly get him a contract I just don't know if it will be this off-season or do they let him stay one more year to see if he can find some consistency.

That said I haven't seen that much of him as Liiga is one of the toughest leagues to get streams over the last few years so I wouldn't mind if he did come over as his contract in Liiga at least for now is slated to end in April so he could join Laval if they make the playoffs either way they don't have to sign him to an NHL contract as if they do he likely will be in Laval since it would count against the 50 contract limit.

To be fair though the bulk of Ylonen's production was in his 18 and 19 year old seasons, he missed a lot of his 20 year old season due to playing in Laval after the COVID stoppage ended. Kapanen hadn't made Liiga full time at 18 so it's largely Ylonen's 18-19 year old season's vs Kapanen's 19-20 year old seasons.

 

[HuGort]

I am hoping he's next years Struble

 

[WeThreeKings]

Probably keep him in Liiga one more year as they'll be integrating Beck into Laval next year.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

He does have 3 full years of pro hockey under his belt now, so in theory he shouldn't be a ''let him stew in laval for a while '' type. He's either good enough to be useful on the main team soon or he just isn't.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

He does have 3 full years of pro hockey under his belt now, so in theory he shouldn't be a ''let him stew in laval for a while '' type. He's either good enough to be useful on the main team soon or he just isn't.

He is only 20 years old......1 year older than Florian Xhekaj and 1 1/2 years younger than Heineman.

Kapanen likely will require a year in Laval to help transition his game to the NA style of hockey. He is too young to start putting deadlines on him.

 

[Team_Spirit]

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

For whatever reason, I keep thinking he's way older than 20. It feels to me like we drafted him 10 years ago, but he'd be the youngest guy in Laval. I have no idea why my brain always puts him in the '' we're about to lose his rights any moment now '' category

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

For whatever reason, I keep thinking he's way older than 20. It feels to me like we drafted him 10 years ago, but he'd be the youngest guy in Laval. I have no idea why my brain always puts him in the '' we're about to lose his rights any moment now '' category

We did draft him 3 drafts ago. Plus the fact we haven’t heard much from him in awhile.

I remember his shot being pretty deadly in draft year videos. Think he was a really good skater too but I could’ve been wrong there. Seemed like a bit of a Lehkonen as a C type pick.

Awesome that he’s been picking it up of late. Just adds to our pretty great depth.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Probably over in two years.

Would imagine Beck goes to the AHL next year and they'll have a Vet, Mysak, Kidney and Beck down the middle. Beck will go up the following year and Kapanen will take his place.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

We did draft him 3 drafts ago. Plus the fact we haven’t heard much from him in awhile.

I remember his shot being pretty deadly in draft year videos. Think he was a really good skater too but I could’ve been wrong there. Seemed like a bit of a Lehkonen as a C type pick.

Awesome that he’s been picking it up of late. Just adds to our pretty great depth.

Skating was his biggest weakness but it has significantly improved. I think he is our most under appreciated prospect on this board. He plays a strong two way game with enough skill to potentially be a good middle 6 forward in the NHL.

He missed much of his D+1 season due to injury and predictably was written off immediately by the usual crowd on here. As one of the youngest players selected in the 2021 draft he is being underestimated imo and is deserving of more attention.

I like the fact that we are developing middle six players who can shoot the puck like Kapanen, Heineman, Beck, Roy etc as you want your supporting lines to have the ability to capitalize on their opportunities.

 

[badfish]

I seem to remember Lehkonen flying under the radar until his D+3, where he picked up some hype thru the regular season and then the hype really took off with his playoffs. Interestingly, Kapanen is pacing for a similar PPG as Lehkonen in the D+3, but he's doing it in Liiga which is usually lower scoring.

When he started off this season I initially thought too little too late but now I'm starting to think other posters are right and he will get signed.

 

[montreal]

1 pt in the last 7 games, out of 36 games he's played this year, he's been pointless in 24 of them, that's insane, 67% of the season so far he's been held pointless.

 

[1909]

1 pt in the last 7 games, out of 36 games he's played this year, he's been pointless in 24 of them, that's insane, 67% of the season so far he's been held pointless.

Habs keep being "lucky" with their picks coming from Sweden or Finland !!!!....

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Always confused by the CBA signing rules. Does he have to be signed by the summer for Canadiens to retain his rights ?

 

[montreal]

Always confused by the CBA signing rules. Does he have to be signed by the summer for Canadiens to retain his rights ?

They have to sign him before June 2025.

 

[Habs4Life]

Kapanen with a goal. KalPa is tied 1-1 in the 1st.

hes on fire lately

 

[bopeep]

hes on fire lately

Not sure if it's deployment or getting laid or.... but he is the streakiest prospect of the lot by far

 

[Adam Michaels]

Not sure if it's deployment or getting laid or.... but he is the streakiest prospect of the lot by far

That military service this past summer made him a man.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Kapanen currently has the exact same stats as last year. 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 pts.

The difference, he did it in 55 games last season. This year, he did it in 43, and there are 8 games left on the season.

He's currently on pace for 31 pts (14G, 18A) in 51 GP.

 

[26Mats]

Kapanen currently has the exact same stats as last year. 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 pts.

The difference, he did it in 55 games last season. This year, he did it in 43, and there are 8 games left on the season.

Maybe he'll be a late bloomer, the next Jake Evans.