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

[Tyson]

Wouldn't surprise me if they put him on Dach's wing. Dach is horrible at faceoffs still and Kapanen could take them.

Agreed

 

[Mrb1p]

Having him in the bottom 9 works for me. He's pretty good.

 

[Trabdy2]

Kapanen probably sticks eh? He's still adjusting a bit, but I think he's gonna adjust quickly and grow.

 

[red devil]

Good chance that Jokinen will be correct that he will win a spot in Montreal this year

 

[Rapala]

He's got some work to do to become an effective winger. His game took off the minute he slotted in at center.
It became more evident when the coaching staff continued to use him there even when Dach came back.

 

[Next Best Thing]

Kapanen the next Lehtonen? One could only hope...

 

[Captain Mountain]

So now that we know Laine won’t be out as long as we expected do we send him back to Sweden?

Bold of you to assume that a team (let alone Montreal) wont have any injuries in that time frame.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I doubt it would matter. It does apply to Mesar though. Unlikely Habs would trade him unless he is definitely not an NHL player and there is no room in Laval.

If by having Laine we have to resign Armia, maybe it's not a good deal. Laine can survive Armia gone, he will make new friends. If for each good player we have to keep a mediocre player, where are we going?

Kapanen the next Lehtonen? One could only hope...

A Lehtonen playing center.

 

[Jaynki]

One thing i noticed about Kapanen is that he feels light. He seems to be lacking in the strenght department. Every other attributes scream NHLer.

 

[Skip Bayless]

One thing i noticed about Kapanen is that he feels light. He seems to be lacking in the strenght department. Every other attributes scream NHLer.

I didn't find him light, I found him contact shy. As in, he probably doesn't expect how intense a puck battle can be in the NHL.

The intensity will ramp up in the first game, curious to see how he adapts.

 

[Bobby Holik agent]

It Kappened! New memes just drop:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843304487081148716

 

[JoelWarlord]

Cool to see, he definitely earned a shot to start with the Habs.

 

[Rapala]

Congrats Kappy I hope you aren't MUTED on the wing for too long!

 

[schwang26]

One thing i noticed about Kapanen is that he feels light. He seems to be lacking in the strenght department. Every other attributes scream NHLer.

I’m surprised he let you pick him up!

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I am not a fan of keeping this player in the NHL this year. I hope they send him back to Europe soon.

 

[Rapala]

I am not a fan of keeping this player in the NHL this year. I hope they send him back to Europe soon.

Those lines at practice warrant a Go-Fund-Me for First Class tickets back to Sweden.

 

[26Mats]

I am not a fan of keeping this player in the NHL this year. I hope they send him back to Europe soon.

Go on, why not?

What's wrong with keeping him? I think he'll get good playing time soon enough. And if he shows in that playing time that he isn't ready, I think he can be sent back to Sweden at that time.

 

[HuGort]

Kapanen adapted to NA ice faster than most do.

 

[boompuffboom]

grats big boy!!!... #91 ?

 

[Skip Bayless]

I hope he's on PP2 when he's in the lineup.

Otherwise back to Finland if he's about to be used like Jake Evans.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I hope he's on PP2 when he's in the lineup.

Otherwise back to Finland if he's about to be used like Jake Evans.

I agree with you Skip. I fear a lost season playing on the 4th line and wasting development time. Should be playing top line minutes this year under Jokinen IMO, then bring him over for good next year. But hopefully the Habs know best on this one.

 

[LaP]

I agree with you Skip. I fear a lost season playing on the 4th line and wasting development time. Should be playing top line minutes this year under Jokinen IMO, then bring him over for good next year. But hopefully the Habs know best on this one.

He will be moved at the center of the 3rd line after the deadline probably.

 

[Zilo44]

we did not ruin Suzuki and Slaf’s development by playing them on the 4th line.

I’d rather see Kapanen play in the NHL than see him dominate games in the SHL. Personally I have seen enough SHL heroes that don’t translate I’d rather see him work in the big league

 

[BLONG7]

Will he stay the whole season? Can he go to Laval after 10-15 games, if he can't cut it?
I am very happy for the kid, but concerned about as time moves on, will he be able to keep going?
They do not play a lot of hockey with travel over in Europe.

 

[Frankenheimer]

Very happy another draft pick has graduated to club. He went through long spells of little production in europe, so he's obviously capable of dealing with tough minutes, tough roles, and that will be a good learning experience for him, even if he doesn't produce many points. He might become a point producer in 2-3 years or more, we hopefully learned our lesson with Lehks (who never had an effort problem).