Oliver Kapanen, a Finnish center, was ultimately signed by the Montreal Canadiens. He was selected 64th overall in the 2021 Draft by them, and he has advanced admirably since then. But what does this signing signify for the next season?
The Evolution of Kapanen throughout the Past Three Seasons
Kapanen has continued to play in Finland’s SM liiga with KalPa Kuopio or its subsidiary affiliates in the three seasons after he was selected. The 20-year-old was fourth on the team in scoring during the 2023–24 season after playing in 51 games and collecting 34 points. With 49 points in 59 games, undrafted 21-year-old Juuso Maenpaa led the way, followed by two veterans, Matya Kantner (25, never drafted) and Jaakko Rissanen (33, undrafted).
Kapanen has also enjoyed international experience playing in the Under-20 World Junior Championship, putting up five points in 12 games and being named Finland’s captain for the 2022-23 tournament. This past season, at the 2024 World Championship, the Canadiens’ prospect scored six goals in just eight games, getting fans excited about seeing him wear the Sainte-Flanelle one day. It’s at those World Championships that Canadiens’ general manager Kent Hughes met with Kapanen’s agent and decided they would iron out a contract after the end of the tournament.
The Entry-Level Deal & Its Implications
The three-year pact signed with the Canadiens covers seasons 2024-25 to 2026-27 wherever he plays since the contract of a 20-year-old cannot slide to the next season. Furthermore, if he fails to make the Canadiens’ roster, he will head back to Europe and make his debut with Timra IK, a Swedish club competing in the Swedish Hockey League, since he signed a contract with them before the start of the last World Championship.
It’s worth mentioning that Timra IK’s general manager is Kapanen’s father, Kimmo. Hopefully, this doesn’t turn out to be like the Alexander Galchenyuk saga in which the young player’s dad was too involved. If you recall, it was reported that Galchenyuk would meet his father outside the Canadiens’ locker room after the game to discuss his performance and get advice which sometimes amounted to “do not listen to your coach, listen to me”. Even worse, the American would check his cell phone between periods to see his father’s advice.
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