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

[montreal]

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I have high hopes for Kapanen. Think he can be a gritty Plekanec, although maybe not the 70 point seasons.

Has a good solid game already, can shoot the puck & is a good skater.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

A Feisty Finn!!

 

[Captain97]

Such a Habs second rounder lol. They really love using second rounders on Lehkonens

I'm down for lehkonen who plays centre. Sounds like a solid 3C

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[Habs13]

I'm always happy to see us draft a Finn - always hard-nosed players, and here is one with great bloodlines and what looks like a sick wrist shot.

 

[Adam Michaels]

I'm always happy to see us draft a Finn - always hard-nosed players, and here is one with great bloodlines and what looks like a sick wrist shot.

I feel like they drafted a few guys who can rip the puck. I don't know enough about their overall game, but I see Kapanen, Kostenko, and Trudeau being able to fire the puck. They also got Gordin last year, who if the kid has one quality, it's his wicked shot.

 

[Habsfan18]

Sounds a lot like Lehkonen. A solid two-way player that plays the game at a higher tempo and has heart, but questionable offensive potential in terms of what he’ll do at the pro level.

 

[Habs13]

I feel like they drafted a few guys who can rip the puck. I don't know enough about their overall game, but I see Kapanen, Kostenko, and Trudeau being able to fire the puck. They also got Gordin last year, who if the kid has one quality, it's his wicked shot.

Yeah, that's a valid point - watching videos of these guys (minus that one guy who we aren't allowed to rip on anymore) and that was the one common denominator, is the shooting prowess. I guess MB finally sees that goal scoring is missing on our team and that you need to score to win.

 

[le_sean]

I'm always happy to see us draft a Finn - always hard-nosed players, and here is one with great bloodlines and what looks like a sick wrist shot.

His uncle Sami was one heck of a player. A forward that was able to play defence in a pinch.

 

[26Mats]

Sounds a lot like Lehkonen. A solid two-way player that plays the game at a higher tempo and has heart, but questionable offensive potential in terms of what he’ll do at the pro level.

I feel like most Timmins forwards have questionable offensive potential. It goes back to Chipchura, as ll the way through D ere la Rose, etc... but I like that Kidney, Simoneau, and Roy have offense.

But one two way forward in a draft I'm ok with.

 

[Habs13]

His uncle Sami was one heck of a player. A forward that was able to play defence in a pinch.

Yeah! He was - was actually a player I always hoped Montreal would somehow get

 

[Et le But]

I feel like most Timmins forwards have questionable offensive potential. It goes back to Chipchura, as ll the way through D ere la Rose, etc... but I like that Kidney, Simoneau, and Roy have offense.

But one two way forward in a draft I'm ok with.

I can't stand Timmins' philosophy and the club's general obsession with two way play over offensive upside but a potential center version of Lehkonen would be a coup at this point in the draft.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Nice scoring instincts to go to the backhand here after the net drive

 

[26Mats]

I can't stand Timmins' philosophy and the club's general obsession with two way play over offensive upside but a potential center version of Lehkonen would be a coup at this point in the draft.

From the highlights, his skating reminds me a bit of Galchenyuk. So, I'm not sure he's a Lehkonen, who's a really good skater.

But he seems to see the ice well in the highlights and have a nose for creating his own shot and getting in good position to finish.

Hope to see him in scrimmages at development camp.

 

[Wats]

Was hoping for Sasha Pastujov but we'll see. Hopefully he takes his game to another level this year, he has the bloodlines.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...looks like he's got one Helluva wrister...and I'm always happy to see another good two-way Fin drafted here...these guys never get enough credit for their game...

 

[KevSkillz4]

How to compare him with Jacob Oloffson?

 

[WeThreeKings]

How to compare him with Jacob Oloffson?

Don't think there's a comparable.. Olofsson is a natural, rangy center who is a playmaker first.. has a bunch of practice skills that he doesn't show in the game all that often (which is why he dropped and continues to be inconsistent in his development and play).

Kapanen is more like Lehkonen than anything.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Don't think there's a comparable.. Olofsson is a natural, rangy center who is a playmaker first.. has a bunch of practice skills that he doesn't show in the game all that often (which is why he dropped and continues to be inconsistent in his development and play).

Kapanen is more like Lehkonen than anything.

It's more encouraging if he is more like Lehkonen. So maybe a futur 15-15, 30 points type of player. 3C potential. That's not bad.

Evans/Poehling/Kapanen... great two-way ability, Habs have a strong futur at C.

 

[DAChampion]

Is he related to Kasperi?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Is he related to Kasperi?

Cousins,

 

[montreal]

Timmins says they expect him to play 2 years in Finland, taken from his interview with Grant

What do you figure the timeline will be on Kapanen to come over, a couple of years? Do you know what his contract status is?

TT: It doesn’t matter because we have an IIHF agreement so it doesn’t matter. But I think he’ll be in Finland at least two years.

 

[Maitz]

Happy BDay to him, wish him a goal tomorrow!

 

[26Mats]

It's more encouraging if he is more like Lehkonen. So maybe a futur 15-15, 30 points type of player. 3C potential. That's not bad.

Evans/Poehling/Kapanen... great two-way ability, Habs have a strong futur at C.

Poehling has a lot to prove to me before I consider him a C at the NHL level.

But a great prospect even if he can only play wing.