Canadiens Rookie Will Have To Wait For Debut

It's one thing to make the Montreal Canadiens 23-man roster, but it's another to play on opening night. Michael Pezzetta is used to sitting some games out and prides himself on being ready when called upon, but rookie Oliver Kapanen has only just come over to this side of the pond. 

In the wake of Patrik Laine's injury, executive vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, appearing on The Sick Podcast, mentioned Kapanen as a candidate to replace the Finnish sniper on the second line. Speaking about the rookie, he said he had come over and opened the organization's eyes. It was enough to avoid being cut but not to be dressed for tonight. 

It will be a change for the youngster who was set to have a big role with Timra IK in the SHL. Former NHLer Olli Jokinen, the team's coach, was operating under the assumption that Kapanen would make the Habs. Still, he had also said that if the Canadiens sent him back, he would also get top line minutes and special unit repetitions. 

The Canadiens have no time limit on sending Kapanen back to Sweden, but once they're done evaluating him, if they can't give him enough opportunities, he could be heading back overseas. 

Meanwhile, there is one player who will be making his Canadiens' debut tonight: Montmagny native Alex Barre-Boulet. After going undrafted, he signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization back in 2018-19. Since then, he has been in that organization aside from one little waiver trip to the Seattle Kraken, but he only got to wear their uniform for two games. 

A free agent last Summer, he signed a one-way deal with the Habs, and tonight will be a moment he'll remember forever. 

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