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

[WinterLion]

My expectations for Kapanen couldn't be lower.

Yeah but you said the same thing about the great Michael Pizzetta didn't you?

 

[WinterLion]

He is probably our most underrated prospect on this board. That is not to say that I think he is a sure fire NHLer but he has a much better chance than most posters give him credit for.

If he was in the CHL he would very likely have out produced Mysak who I think has been overrated on this board.

Mysak and Kapanen both played very similar (important) roles for their teams during the last WJC... Mysak managed to score some very important goals. Kapanen didn't score much but was heavily relied upon. Honestly I think it will depend a lot on if they want to toil in the AHL in order to become NHLers or if they will be just go back to a safe job in Europe... I doubt either become world beaters.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Mysak and Kapanen both played very similar (important) roles for their teams during the last WJC... Mysak managed to score some very important goals. Kapanen didn't score much but was heavily relied upon. Honestly I think it will depend a lot on if they want to toil in the AHL in order to become NHLers or if they will be just go back to a safe job in Europe... I doubt either become world beaters.

Kapanen is a full year younger and may have already surpassed Mysak. You need to compare Kapanen's performance this season at the WJC's to Mysak's last tournament. That being said, it is a short tournament and means very little.

I don't think Mysak has much top six upside at all but Kapanen may have a slightly higher ceiling. I agree that neither prospect is expected to be a "world beater" but I like Kapanen's chances better than Mysak's to become a fringe part of the core.

 

[Chet-Nick]

Scored a goal and second star of the game, lately he's been constantly one of the KalPa's best players. Very well placed shot today, he has a knack for that kind of thing. I also think that his skating has improved this season, it's still not anything special but I think i saw glimpse of actual speed today.

Yup! After I watched Oliver crashing into the boards. Seeing his name appear on the scoring summary the next game was a bonus.

Little doubt Kapanen spends at least another season in Finland.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Yeah but you said the same thing about the great Michael Pizzetta didn't you?

I'm using my @Whitesnake magic.

 

[WeThreeKings]

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I wonder if it comes with an out clause in case the Habs would rather have him go to Laval instead. Not that they necessarily would mind you, he's getting good minutes in the Liiga.

 

[HuGort]

Montreal turned the Marco Scandella rental into Oliver Kapanen, Sean Farrell and William Trudeau.

 

[26Mats]

Montreal turned the Marco Scandella rental into Oliver Kapanen, Sean Farrell and William Trudeau.

*Bergevin/Timmins turned the Marco Scandella rental into Oliver Kapanen, Sean Farrell and William Trudeau.

They both had to go, but credit where credit is due. Timmins could probably be a good part of a scouting team if he's firstly not head scout and secondly mainly in charge of dmen. Bergevin could probably be a good assistant GM if he's exclusively focused on transactions in the bargain bin.

 

[SupRocket]

Kapanen was the best player in Finland's elimination game vs Sweden yesterday. Probably has 0 star upside, but plays a smart game 2-way game. Not the most exciting prospect, but could very well turn into a bottom 6 center for us in the next couple of years.

 

[Simarino]

Kapanen was the best player in Finland's elimination game vs Sweden yesterday. Probably has 0 star upside, but plays a smart game 2-way game. Not the most exciting prospect, but could very well turn into a bottom 6 center for us in the next couple of years.

If he can replace Jake`` vanilla`` Evans at the league minimum instead of the 1.7M Evans is making it would be perfect.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Good. Hopefully next year, he will be KalPa's 2C.

There's nothing earth shattering about the kid, but since he's been drafted, he seems to progress.

 

[26Mats]

Kapanen was the best player in Finland's elimination game vs Sweden yesterday. Probably has 0 star upside, but plays a smart game 2-way game. Not the most exciting prospect, but could very well turn into a bottom 6 center for us in the next couple of years.

Would Jake Evan's be a comparable?

 

[SupRocket]

Would Jake Evan's be a comparable?

I would say so yes. Probably better in faceoffs and plays a bit more physical, maybe a slightly worse skater.

 

[Rob Sense]

I would say so yes. Probably better in faceoffs and plays a bit more physical, maybe a slightly worse skater.

He seems like a good skater from the games I saw.

 

[Tyson]

11th goal last night. 25 points in 50 games and he doesn't turn 20 until July.
He seems to be a pretty good prospect.

 

[jfm133]

He is a good prospect. Since 2018, Timmins/Bergevin often took chances on younger guys in the draft and in trade, Suzuki, KK, Harris, Hillis, Struble, Mysak, Smith, Roy and Kapanen. You cannot draft on this criteria alone, but it's a way to get players that are not as advanced in their maturation process. Obviously, the talent needs to also be there. Hillis and Smith are good examples of failures, but overall I think it's something that needs to be taken into account. So all that to say that Kapanen was on the younger side, July 29, of his draft year, and it's a factor in his slower blosoming. Kapanen is only 3.5 months older than Adam Engstrom, drafted one year after him.

11th goal last night. 25 points in 50 games and he doesn't turn 20 until July.
He seems to be a pretty good prospect.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

11th goal last night. 25 points in 50 games and he doesn't turn 20 until July.
He seems to be a pretty good prospect.

He will add speed to an already increasingly quick team.

 

[montreal]

Kapanen's 25 pts puts him in a tie for 119th OA in U-20 points in Liiga's history. He's 2 pts short of Ylonen's 27, which he's tied foe 96th OA all time.

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

 

[Jorma Heart]

Kapanen's season has just ended since KalPa lost game seven against Pelicans 4-2. He ended up playing over 23 minutes, 9 times more than any other center. Real number one center Rissanen got injured before the match, so Kapanen stepped up and ended up being the best forward of the team when it mattered. Of course most of our forwards just sucked or were probably injured, so it's not that high of a praise, but in the first period he was the only forward who could drive offence and he kept up that whole game.

0+1 in 7 games doesn't look much, but he could create offence a lot through series and a lot prime scoring changes but just couldn't bury it. He's not gonna beat defenders one-on-one on his skill or speed, but his smart quick plays, strength, constant backchecking, board battles, pass interceptions and all that hustle creates chances for his linemates and himself, and he doesn't hesitate to shoot the puck. when he has a chance.

24 shots, more than any other KalPa forward
TOI 19:42, more than any other center
60,5% defensive zone faceoffs
COR% 54
FO 55,2%, was over 50 in six of his 7 games

He started this season as a 4th line rookie and ended up being a team's all around most responsible and clearly the best defensive forward in the playoffs. That's some development and he's still 19 years old. It will be a treat to see him play one more year in Finland. I could see long time third line center in making.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

He will add speed to an already increasingly quick team.

Skating was always the weakest part of his game although it has definitely improved. He is closer to average now but I doubt that it will ever be a major strength for him.

 

[Steve Shutt]

We don't hear much about Kapanen and he seems to be one of our forgotten prospects for a kid who's only 19 and a former 2nd rounder.
Watched this video and Grant McCagg (former scout and HFboards member) and he seems really high on Kapanen (likes him even more than Beck). I know some of you have given McCagg a hard time over the years but he's also a former scout and runs Recrutes so I think he's more knowledgeable than most posters even if we don't always like what he's saying.

I'm assuming Kapanen is back in Finland next year but would be interesting to see what happens if he has a strong camp - could he possibly start in Laval?

 

[An0n]

We don't hear much about Kapanen and he seems to be one of our forgotten prospects for a kid who's only 19 and a former 2nd rounder.
Watched this video and Grant McCagg (former scout and HFboards member) and he seems really high on Kapanen (likes him even more than Beck). I know some of you have given McCagg a hard time over the years but he's also a former scout and runs Recrutes so I think he's more knowledgeable than most posters even if we don't always like what he's saying.

I'm assuming Kapanen is back in Finland next year but would be interesting to see what happens if he has a strong camp - could he possibly start in Laval?

Liking him more than Beck is foolish but Kapanen definitely a legit NHL prospect. He won't be a top 6 player but could be a key cog in a succesful bottom 6.

 

[Cookie007]

Seen him a couple of times and can only compare him to former habs (since that's what i watch the most).. i would say his ceiling would be a lars eller type, where he be reliable 2 way C that can pot in 15ish goals a season. will be keeping you wanting more because he doesn't have that next level offense, but still solid contributer.

his floor though is like a jacob de la rose.. again reliable defensively but non-existent offense.

the key word here is he is a reliable player that should make it to the big leagues (if only for a few games). noted with his usage at world juniors for Finland (think he was the C). It'll be his offense and how he takes the next step that would be determine his longevity.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Honestly, I'd be over the moon if he turns into a Lars Eller for us. That's the best case scenario.