The Montreal Canadiens signed the 20-year-old forward prospect to an entry-level contract.
On Saturday, the Montreal Canadiens announced the signature of Oliver Kapanen to a three-year entry level contract starting in 2024-25.
The centre completed his second season with KalPa in Finland's Liiga, where he scored 14 goals and 34 points in 51 games and 14 points in 13 playoff matches.
Kapanen represented his country at the 2024 IIHF World Championships, leading his team with six and goals in eight games, plus-1 rating, while averaging 14:07 ice time. It was during that tournament that RDS reported that Kent Hughes and Kapanen's agent agreed to meet following the competition to discuss a potential entry level contract.
The forward selected 64th overall in the 2021 entry draft signed in May a two-year contract with Timra IK in the SHL. If he doesn't earn a NHL roster spot from training camp, the 20-year-old will return to Sweden for the season and will be eligible to play in North America at any professional level.
Kapanen becomes the fifth player chosen by the Canadiens in 2021 to sign an entry level contract with the club. Logan Mailloux (31st overall) and Joshua Roy (150th) are the only ones from that draft class that have made an NHL appearance so far. Riley Kidney (63rd), William Trudeau (113th), and Xavier Simoneau (191st) round out that group and all played for the Laval Rocket last season in the AHL.
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