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

Leon Lucius Black

Registered User
Nov 5, 2007
16,075
6,390
De La Rose is a good example of a player who was rushed. Because his defensive game was so good, he was playing above his age level even prior to being drafted, then Therrien rushed him his first year.

De La Rose needed two solid seasons in the AHL top-6 and PP to develop his offensive game.

Poor DLR was basically f***ed either way. It was either:

Option A - Play in the AHL under a POS in Lefebrvre
Option B - Play in the NHL under a POS in Therrien

Too bad he couldn't have stayed in Europe until he was more ready like Lehkonen.
 

Goalfield13

In Bilbo We Trust
Aug 31, 2021
2,391
3,381
Wouldn't an AHL spot just make him stay in Europe? The AHL has an awful track record with Finnish skaters, especially forwards.
If the org tells him it is what is best for him, he should do it. Starting the season in the AHL doesn't mean he has to stay there the entire season. The prospect of getting NHL games is a nice incentive.
 

Rapala

Registered User
Mar 29, 2013
43,534
41,501
Montreal
De La Rose is a good example of a player who was rushed. Because his defensive game was so good, he was playing above his age level even prior to being drafted, then Therrien rushed him his first year.

De La Rose needed two solid seasons in the AHL top-6 and PP to develop his offensive game.
De La Rose was a product of a revamped Swedish National Program when they implemented a very conservative defense first system.
I don't know how much the AHL would have helped him but it was super frustrating watching him constantly turning away from opportunity.
We were never able to break that instinct in him from what I remember it sucked.
 
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Victoire HuGo

Formerly le Barron de HF
Mar 12, 2008
16,914
5,153
Shawinigan
De La Rose was a product of a revamped Swedish National Program when they implemented a very conservative defense first system.
I don't know how much the AHL would have helped him but it was super frustrating watching him constantly turning away from opportunity.
We were never able to break that instinct in him from what I remember it sucked.
He did have some productive WJC. It is mind boggling why he was rushed to the NHL. I still remember the takes that he was already as good as Eller when he was first called up.
 

1909

Registered User
Jul 6, 2016
21,447
11,977
De La Rose is a good example of a player who was rushed. Because his defensive game was so good, he was playing above his age level even prior to being drafted, then Therrien rushed him his first year.

De La Rose needed two solid seasons in the AHL top-6 and PP to develop his offensive game.
Not the coach job to promote a player. It was all on the GM.
 
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Andy

Registered User
Jun 26, 2008
32,458
17,935
Montreal
Therrien hated Eller so much that he gave DLR his spot for a number of games when it was so undeserved. Dude rushed a prospect to send a message to a player he hated.

That was Therrien in a nutshell
 
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Estimated_Prophet

Registered User
Mar 28, 2003
11,261
12,681
I wouldn't put too much weight on the 10 games he got with us this season, the team was in complete shambles back then, it was a terrible environment for a 20 year old rookie.

DLR never had offensive skill and was not going to develop it anywhere as has been proven with his career. He was drafted based on being an elite skater with the hope that there was some offence there.....there was not.
 
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Goalfield13

In Bilbo We Trust
Aug 31, 2021
2,391
3,381
It kinda feels like this guy is getting underrated as a prospect now because he wasn't ready for NHL action this year. A year in the SHL and an entire offseason will do him good. He had a taste of NHL action this year too. He knows what to work towards and is getting a lot of support.
 

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