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

[Kudo Shinichi]

I’ve been begging and hoping to see Dvo removed from this roster for 2 years now. I swear, if they keep him over Kapanen just because he’s a “veteran” and has a useless overpaid contract…

Plays die on his stick. He brings nothing to the team.
Everytime Kapanen was on the ice, he was making things happen. This is a no brainer.

Bury Dvo in the AHL and forget about him. Doubt anyone even claims him.

Even if Kapanen makes the team, Dvorak isn't going anywhere. He will be the 13th forward at worst.

 

[BJCOLLINS]

As the quality of our prospect pool rises the more difficult HuGo’s decision making becomes. Great teams work within a meritocracy that pushes them to clearly understand who “deserves“ to play alongside them. When the season begins I suspect we’ll have disappointed fans who will have to be patient with HuGo, the waiver wire, contracts & salary cap. It will have to enough, when we see players in Laval, to trust the long game. It’s early but wow, Davidson, Kapanen, Roy, Beck, Hutson, Reinbacher, Mailloux are knocking at the door and we all know that 6 F and 4 D are locks. What a welcome problem to have, lol.
Cheers.

 

[417]

I’ve been begging and hoping to see Dvo removed from this roster for 2 years now. I swear, if they keep him over Kapanen just because he’s a “veteran” and has a useless overpaid contract…

Plays die on his stick. He brings nothing to the team.
Everytime Kapanen was on the ice, he was making things happen. This is a no brainer.

Bury Dvo in the AHL and forget about him. Doubt anyone even claims him.

I'm not the biggest Dvorak fan but I bet you'd be surprised what he'd get at the trade deadline though.

GMs always get horny for that kind of player at the deadline, he can kill penalties, win faceoffs and has some limited offensive ability.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'm not the biggest Dvorak fan but I bet you'd be surprised what he'd get at the trade deadline though.

GMs always get horny for that kind of player at the deadline, he can kill penalties, win faceoffs and has some limited offensive ability.

There's not a litany of these guys out there when you need depth to get through the attrition of the playoffs.

I hate Dvorak and the trade, it was horrendous.. but the guy has value in the NHL. Just nothing close to what Bergevin paid for him because he let the Canes pants him.

 

[Egresch]

Ladies and gentlemen,
this kid barely made top10 of our prospect list.

HF Habs: - HF Habs: 2024 Habs Final Prospect rankings

With Smilanic rights expiring, we are done with the rankings! 1. Ivan Demidov, 96.9% (N/A) 2. Lane Hutson, 51.5% (-1) 3. David Reinbacher, 90.4% (-1) 4. Logan Mailloux, 37.3% (-1) 5. Michael Hage, 47.3% (N/A) 6. Joshua Roy, 55.1% (-2) 7. Jacob Fowler, 56.2% (+4) 8. Owen Beck, 84.0% (-2) 9. Adam...

forums.hfboards.com

 

[417]

There's not a litany of these guys out there when you need depth to get through the attrition of the playoffs.

I hate Dvorak and the trade, it was horrendous.. but the guy has value in the NHL. Just nothing close to what Bergevin paid for him because he let the Canes pants him.

Agreed...just knowing how Hughes views assets, I don't think they're going to toss aside Dvorak to make room for Kapanen, not quite yet.

But there's no reason why Kapanen can't make the team as sa 13th or 14th forward and then see how things play out.

 

[Toene]

As the quality of our prospect pool rises the more difficult HuGo’s decision making becomes. Great teams work within a meritocracy that pushes them to clearly understand who “deserves“ to play alongside them. When the season begins I suspect we’ll have disappointed fans who will have to be patient with HuGo, the waiver wire, contracts & salary cap. It will have to enough, when we see players in Laval, to trust the long game. It’s early but wow, Davidson, Kapanen, Roy, Beck, Hutson, Reinbacher, Mailloux are knocking at the door and we all know that 6 F and 4 D are locks. What a welcome problem to have, lol.
Cheers.

Heineman too.

 

[Vachon23]

Ladies and gentlemen,
this kid barely made top10 of our prospect list.

HF Habs: - HF Habs: 2024 Habs Final Prospect rankings

With Smilanic rights expiring, we are done with the rankings! 1. Ivan Demidov, 96.9% (N/A) 2. Lane Hutson, 51.5% (-1) 3. David Reinbacher, 90.4% (-1) 4. Logan Mailloux, 37.3% (-1) 5. Michael Hage, 47.3% (N/A) 6. Joshua Roy, 55.1% (-2) 7. Jacob Fowler, 56.2% (+4) 8. Owen Beck, 84.0% (-2) 9. Adam...

forums.hfboards.com

Lack of view from him since he played
In Europe. I’m the first to admit that I underestimated him

 

[Beaker]

Ladies and gentlemen,
this kid barely made top10 of our prospect list.

HF Habs: - HF Habs: 2024 Habs Final Prospect rankings

With Smilanic rights expiring, we are done with the rankings! 1. Ivan Demidov, 96.9% (N/A) 2. Lane Hutson, 51.5% (-1) 3. David Reinbacher, 90.4% (-1) 4. Logan Mailloux, 37.3% (-1) 5. Michael Hage, 47.3% (N/A) 6. Joshua Roy, 55.1% (-2) 7. Jacob Fowler, 56.2% (+4) 8. Owen Beck, 84.0% (-2) 9. Adam...

forums.hfboards.com

A lot of depth right now. That top 9 is good.

 

[LaP]

Agreed...just knowing how Hughes views assets, I don't think they're going to toss aside Dvorak to make room for Kapanen, not quite yet.

But there's no reason why Kapanen can't make the team as sa 13th or 14th forward and then see how things play out.

If KH remains contant with his assets management he'll try to get the most he can for Dvorak and Armia but imo he'll want to create room for next season so they're gone imo but if the value is better at the TDL KH will wait the TDL. If there's not enough vets after trading then KH can always recall ABB like he did with Belzile 2 years ago,

 

[Erika]

Please make room for him. He was absolutely dominant out there. That spin in the offensive zone to set up the play yesterday on barre boulet goal was a thing of beauty. Showed great puck control, patience, hockey IQ and playmaking ability. It was amazing to watch. Reminds me of a Vincent Trocheck kind of player. 2nd line center in the making imo.

 

[26Mats]

If KH remains contant with his assets management he'll try to get the most he can for Dvorak and Armia but imo he'll want to create room for next season so they're gone imo but if the value is better at the TDL KH will wait the TDL. If there's not enough vets after trading then KH can always recall ABB like he did with Belzile 2 years ago,

It would be interesting for to see what Hughes would do if were were in the playoff hunt and Dvo and Armia were playing well, and had high value (2nd round picks). I would definitely trade them, along with Savard. No room for them next year. I'd finish off the playoff push with Beck, ABB, Heineman, and Mailloux in their places, or try to get cheap vets at the TDL. Next year Kapanen, Demidov, and probably Heineman and Beck will need spots.

As for right now, there's room for Kapanen on the roster. But someone will have to be 13th forward that isn't used to that role.

 

[Vachon23]

As for right now, there's room for Kapanen on the roster. But someone will have to be 13th forward that isn't used to that role.

Where gonna have injuries, so we do need 13 forward

 

[morhilane]

It would be interesting for to see what Hughes would do if were were in the playoff hunt

Hughes already let it be known at the golf tournament that he might not trade the UFAs.

 

[26Mats]

Where gonna have injuries, so we do need 13 forward

Yes, it's just a matter of whether Hughes wants to start Kapanen or a vet in the pressbox, or send Roy to Laval.

Hughes already let it be known at the golf tournament that he might not trade the UFAs.

Interesting. I missed that quote. Well, Kapanen's camp, even if he doesn't make the time, may influence Hughes's trade deadline decisions.

 

[LaP]

It would be interesting for to see what Hughes would do if were were in the playoff hunt and Dvo and Armia were playing well, and had high value (2nd round picks). I would definitely trade them, along with Savard. No room for them next year. I'd finish off the playoff push with Beck, ABB, Heineman, and Mailloux in their places, or try to get cheap vets at the TDL. Next year Kapanen, Demidov, and probably Heineman and Beck will need spots.

As for right now, there's room for Kapanen on the roster. But someone will have to be 13th forward that isn't used to that role.

I think if we are in the playoffs it will be because those vet forwards were push aside by kids. Dvorak and Armia can help fill a hole in a strong cup contending lineup and at the deadline they should be cheap enough to replace an injured player but i don't think those guys make the difference between a playoffs participation or not for us.

 

[26Mats]

I think if we are in the playoffs it will be because those vets were push aside by kids. Dvorak and Armia can help fill a hole in a strong cup contending lineup and at the deadline they should be cheap enough to be useful to replace an injured player but i don't think those guys make the difference between a playoffs participation or not.

Armia put up 17 goals in spite of not playing well at first. Dvo scored at a pace of 48 points per 82 games his first year. We'll see how they're playing.

But I never liked Dvo at c. I don't expect him to wow at C.

 

[Vachon23]

Yes, it's just a matter of whether Hughes wants to start Kapanen or a vet in the pressbox, or send Roy to Laval.

It could even be Kapanen that could start in the press box if they don’t want to start a vet on the press box

 

[BaBeLuLu]

From Olivers and Montreals viewpoint half more year in Sweden will do good. He gets to play for Jokinen and lots of ice time in top6, Including PP.. You guys are not in the push mode yet, so just get some value at trade deadline before call him back.

 

[Ezpz]

From Olivers and Montreals viewpoint half more year in Sweden will do good. He gets to play for Jokinen and lots of ice time in top6, Including PP.. You guys are not in the push mode yet, so just get some value at trade deadline before call him back.

Loans are typically season-long.

 

[BaBeLuLu]

Not talking about half a season, but 6 months. Timra might not make it far in the PO, so your organization probably could use him at the start of April. Might be better off for sure contract wise to wait until next season. But why shelter him from getting lots of ice time and PP, when there's no need yet to put him on limited 10-12mins per game or probably even less playing 4th line aa the season continues.
We seen how you handle finniish prospects.
Jasperi was on his way to break the Habs rookie record until he got demoted to bottom lines and lost his self confidence for good.

 

[HuGort]

Good to have Kapanen and Beck on ELC next three years. Quality bottom 6 on light contracts.

 

[Habs Halifax]

The best news for me is Beck and Kapanen bring completely different attributes to the table stylistically.
I was surprised how good Oliver was on the dot and killing penalties.
That they won't be competing for the same role is HUGE.

Yeah, It's a very interesting mix. Our center depth is very strong with Beck/Kapanen developing well and the last draft added to it more. Hage, Koivu, Sawyer.

Kapanen has worked very hard to improve and he was performing well in the SHL... which is a very competitive league.

 

[Egresch]

Good to have Kapanen and Beck on ELC next three years. Quality bottom 6 on light contracts.

Unfortunatelly, compensating three years of Gallagher and Anderson. Even if I think they will move Andy within next 12 months. Depending on his performance, they might need some retention.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Good to have Kapanen and Beck on ELC next three years. Quality bottom 6 on light contracts.

Yes, and we will have more coming in on ELC too! We should have a cap advantage for a long time and this rebuild is looking more and more better as each year passes.

When you look at the Oilers and Leafs rebuild, they were both lacking pieces coming in after on ELC and they were forced to try to make improvements through UFA signings and trades. Too many holes to fill and created cap hell.

Unfortunatelly, compensating three years of Gallagher and Anderson. Even if I think they will move Andy within next 12 months. Depending on his performance, they might need some retention.

Next three years is not going to be a cap problem for the Habs though. We can and will move contracts out when we have too. Too many fans want to move them too quickly.