Canadiens: Kapanen To The Rescue
Oliver Kapanen - Photo credit: © Eric Bolte-Imagn ImagesThe Montreal Canadiens announced Wednesday morning that Oliver Kapanen would join the club later today. The center, who was born in Timra, Sweden but represents Finland on the international scene, had started the season with the Habs before being lent to Timra IK in the SHL.
The 21-year-old forward skipped rookie camp in September, starting his preseason with Timra under the watchful eye of former NHLer Jolli Jokinen. As a result, when he showed up for training camp, he was already in game shape and ahead of other young players.
As the camp went on and as the preseason opponents became better and better, he didn’t look head and shoulders above everyone else anymore. Still, he impressed enough to make the roster at the start of the season. He played 12 games with Montreal, registering two assists before being loaned back to Timra.
Throughout his season overseas, he saw a lot of action, playing top-six minutes and skating on the power play and penalty kill units, opportunities he wouldn’t have had staying in Montreal. In 36 games with Timra, he put up 35 points and another three points in six games.
Kent Hughes had mentioned that once Kapanen’s season would be done in Europe, he’d be heading to the Laval Rocket, but today’s announcement seems to indicate he’ll be joining the big club. Just like the GM had said Kaiden Guhle wouldn’t be cleared to play this season unless the Habs were in the playoffs race. Less than a month later, with the Canadiens being in the second wild card spot, the blueliner came back into the lineup.
Now, with Kirby Dach out for the season and with Owen Beck and Joshua Roy having failed to impress enough to stay in the lineup. Martin St-Louis has used Michael Pezzetta for the last two games but he’s not getting regular shifts, seeing less than six minutes of action in both matches.
Dressing a player who cannot take a regular shift puts more pressure on the remaining 11 forwards, perhaps St-Louis will be willing to give Kapanen a chance and see if he can steal Pezzetta’s chair, or at this stage, we might as well say stool since he’s hardly booked a regular place in the lineup.
The other possibility would be for him to fill in for the injured Joel Armia, but I doubt St-Louis will be willing to tell the veteran to sit, wrist injury or not. St-Louis knows what Armia brings to the table and trusts him.
The Canadiens only had an optional skate today and they’ll be back in action tomorrow night when they welcome the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre. We should know more about the plan with Kapanen by then.
Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.
Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.
Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.