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

[WeThreeKings]

Anybody know Kapanen's ice time in the SHL? I'm assuming he is playing #1C and first PP unit?

Correct.

 

[26Mats]

I'm still high on this prospect. I like his combination of hockey sense, drive, and size.

Some Europeans take a couple years to figure out the physicality of the NHL. But once they get it, they get it.

 

[montreal]

Anybody know Kapanen's ice time in the SHL? I'm assuming he is playing #1C and first PP unit?

Oliver Kapanen - Habs Prospects

habsprospects.com

 

[Habs Halifax]

Oliver Kapanen - Habs Prospects

habsprospects.com

Thanks!

 

[Habs Halifax]

I'm still high on this prospect. I like his combination of hockey sense, drive, and size.

Some Europeans take a couple years to figure out the physicality of the NHL. But once they get it, they get it.

I'm very high on Kapanen. Kid can play and has little holes to his game. Lets play nit pick game... What are his flaws? When I say very high, I don't mean 2C high... I mean well above average 3C and those are valuable pieces that contenders don't typically have

 

[montreal]

What are his flaws?

speed, skating, size, strength.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

I'm still high on this prospect. I like his combination of hockey sense, drive, and size.

Some Europeans take a couple years to figure out the physicality of the NHL. But once they get it, they get it.

I feel people have PTSD from the Bergevin era with all the Finnish/Swedish prospects that didn't turn out. A lot of people had written Heineman off prior to this year and he's proven everyone wrong. It feels like forever ago, but Kapanen was arguably our best player his first couple pre-season games and was very impressive for a 21 year old.

Him and Heineman showed great chemistry together in the games they were linemates and I wouldn't be surprised if they are together in our bottom six in the near future.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

speed, skating, size, strength.

Mathematics

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Why is he talking in English. Also let's bring back the Oli memes!

Hoping someone would post this. It’s just one of the best memes ever

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

speed, skating, size, strength.

Size and strength aren't flaws with Kapanen as he is just young and will fill out . His skating has improved considerably since we drafted him and I expect him to be closer to average speed but with very good edge work which he already is beginning to demonstrate.

His current "flaws" are more about physical immaturity rather than career limiting flaws.

 

[Team_Spirit]

He looks like Ned Flanders in " thou shall not" mode.

Nah he's too big. This guy is Ned

 

[Erika]

speed, skating, size, strength.

Speed and skating is average imo, could see improvements sure.
Size and strenght, I don't see that with Kapanen he is 6'1, could reach 6'2 and is solid on his skates for his age already. Everything can improve.

For the future 3rd line center role, it will be between him and Owen Beck.

 

[skidcells]

Speed and skating is average imo, could see improvements sure.
Size and strenght, I don't see that with Kapanen he is 6'1, could reach 6'2 and is solid on his skates for his age already. Everything can improve.

For the future 3rd line center role, it will be between him and Owen Beck.

He’s 22. Whatever height he is at currently is where he stays. He isn’t growing an inch at 22.

 

[montreal]

Speed and skating is average imo, could see improvements sure.
Size and strenght, I don't see that with Kapanen he is 6'1, could reach 6'2 and is solid on his skates for his age already. Everything can improve.

For the future 3rd line center role, it will be between him and Owen Beck.

It's not so much the height as he's list at 6'0 at some and 6'1 at others but he looks skinny out there and is easily pushed around. Who said they can't improve on those things though? as of course he will get bigger/stronger over the next few years. He might be a center or not, we'll see how it goes.

 

[LaP]

Speed and skating is average imo, could see improvements sure.
Size and strenght, I don't see that with Kapanen he is 6'1, could reach 6'2 and is solid on his skates for his age already. Everything can improve.

For the future 3rd line center role, it will be between him and Owen Beck.

NHL.com has Kapanen at 6'2 194 lbs

 

[Erika]

NHL.com has Kapanen at 6'2 194 lbs

Yes, that is far from small. 6'0 or 6'1 was when he got drafted I think.

 

[Erika]

He’s 22. Whatever height he is at currently is where he stays. He isn’t growing an inch at 22.

It's not so much the height as he's list at 6'0 at some and 6'1 at others but he looks skinny out there and is easily pushed around. Who said they can't improve on those things though? as of course he will get bigger/stronger over the next few years. He might be a center or not, we'll see how it goes.

He is already 6'2

 

[schwang26]

I feel people have PTSD from the Bergevin era with all the Finnish/Swedish prospects that didn't turn out. A lot of people had written Heineman off prior to this year and he's proven everyone wrong. It feels like forever ago, but Kapanen was arguably our best player his first couple pre-season games and was very impressive for a 21 year old.

Him and Heineman showed great chemistry together in the games they were linemates and I wouldn't be surprised if they are together in our bottom six in the near future.

It’s sad when you think Heineman is our 3rd best Swede ever and we didn’t even draft him! Shows how shitty the Euro scouts were

 

[montreal]

He is already 6'2

View attachment 959629

eliteprospects has 6'1, habprospects has him at 6'0, but no way is he 6'2, he looks small out there,

 

[LaP]

eliteprospects has 6'1, habprospects has him at 6'0, but no way is he 6'2, he looks small out there,

Dunno he looks taller than everyone else on the ice in this video. He's skinny no doubt.

 

[montreal]

It’s sad when you think Heineman is our 3rd best Swede ever and we didn’t even draft him! Shows how shitty the Euro scouts were

to be fair our lone Swedish scout pushed for him at the draft and it was said they were going to pick him but panthers beat us to the punch.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

He’s 22. Whatever height he is at currently is where he stays. He isn’t growing an inch at 22.

He is 21 and will be 21 for another 6 1/2 months. It is true that he is not going to grow any more but lets stick to the facts here.

eliteprospects has 6'1, habprospects has him at 6'0, but no way is he 6'2, he looks small out there,

He definitely does not look small at all but I would go with Elite Prospects as they are easily the best site for measurements.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

He 100% needs to get stronger. He got pushed off the puck very easily in his short stint with the Habs.

 

[EtLeBut2]

He needs to get stronger but he's not small and it's definitely an area he should in theory improve upon. He will never be physically imposing but I'm not worried there.

Finns know how to grind.

 

[Essenege]

I have both Kapanen and Beck playing lots of NHL games next year. Ideally as our 4th center and 13th forward/AHL 1st line center who gets the call up (instead of having Condotta/Pezzetta has the call up/13th forward option)

Is Kapanen coming over in the A if he doesn’t make the team? I feel like he might just need 20 games or so in the A to adjust his game speed on smaller rink…at some point those Euro guys gotta commit to it if they want a better chance.