http://www.leijonat.fi/index.php/sarjat/u20-sm-sarja/kausi-2020-21/item/39774-kalpan-oliver-kapanen-nimettiin-u20-sm-sarjan-marraskuun-parhaaksi-nuoreksi-pelaajaksi#74435b60

Fantasy Summary

An all around center who can play on the power play and on the penalty kill. Kapanen has above average skating, but excels with his ability to be elusive in tight areas using his shifty footwork


Observations

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September 2024 – Oliver Kapanen had a great season in LIIGA in 2023-24, and is now on loan to Timra of the SHL for 2024-25. He will be coming to Canadiens training camp, and has an outside chance at claiming an NHL roster spot. Kapanen is a strong 200-foot player and projects as an intelligent and effective bottom-six centre. Aaron Itovitch
May 2022 – Among the centermen the Canadiens drafted in 2021, Joshua Roy and Riley Kidney have gotten all the media and fan attention over the course of this season, as they put up big numbers playing close to home in the QMJHL, but Oliver Kapanen has flown under the radar as a potential bottom-6 center of the future for the Tricolore. His biggest weapon is his shot, which he gets off very quickly in tight spaces; this allows him to excel in a bumper role on the powerplay. While his defensive ability helps project him to a bottom of the lineup NHL role and plays a part in his relatively high floor, his average speed and slightly clunky skating mechanics will need to be further addressed to help smooth the transition to the professional North American game. Kapanen also lacks the dynamism required to make me hopeful of a top-6 ceiling, but he was one of the younger players in his draft class, as a late-July birthday, giving him more time to develop and grow. Fantasy managers could be interested in adding him if they seek a natural center with a lethal release, good defensive awareness, a high floor, and the ability to stitch plays together between his wingers. Sebastian High

December 2021 – Kapanen started the season for Kalpa’s U20 team in Finland where he had seven points in six games and earned a call up to the Liiga. He only has two points in 11 games in the Finnish top flight but has played a steady defensive game. Kapanen will play an important top-6 role for Finland at the U20 World Juniors. Pablo Ruiz

 

July 2021 – Kapanen was the top line center for KalPa’s U20 team and played in all situations while adding 41 points in 37 games. He also put up five points in a short five game stint in the Mestis league, which is the Finnish men’s league below the Liiga. He is expected to spend next season in the Liiga. Kapanen was drafted in the second round at 64 overall by the Montreal Canadiens. Pablo Ruiz

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 7.0
NHL Certainty 7.0
Country CAN
Position C
Roster Type Europe
Shoot/Glove Right
Date of Birth June 29, 2003
Height 6‘1”
Weight 183 lbs
Drafted 2021 Round 2; Overall: 64

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2018-2019 KalPa U16U16 SM-sarja Q27 5 1015 12|        
  KalPa U16U16 SM-sarja16 8 1018 14|Playoffs4 3 03
  KalPa U16 AkatemiaU16 Mestis Q1 3 03 2|        
 2019-2020 KalPa U18U18 SM-sarja44 23 2750 28|        
  KalPa U20U20 SM-sarja2 1 01 0|        
  Finland U17 (all)International-Jr7 3 14 2|        
 2020-2021 KalPa U20U20 SM-sarja37 25 1641 26|        
  JoKPMestis5 3 25 12|        
  Finland U18WJC-184 0 00 2|        
 2021-2022 KalPa U20U20 SM-sarja11 7 815 0|Playoffs10 5 611 14 
  KalPaLiiga16 1 12 2|        
  KärpätLiiga2 0 22 0|        
  Finland U20 (all)WJC-20 Cancelled2 0 00 0|        
  IPKMestis8 1 34 2|        
  Finland U20WJC-207 1 12 4|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr14 2 24 10|        
 2022-2023 KalPaLiiga55 12 1527 28|Playoffs7 0 11
  Finland U20WJC-205 2 13 0|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr10 6 28 2|        
 2023-2024 KalPaLiiga51 14 2034 32|Playoffs13 7 714
  KalPaSpengler Cup3 0 11 4|        
  Finland EHT6 1 23 2|        
  FinlandWC8 6 06 4|        
  Finland (all)International16 7 29 6|        
 2024-2025 Montréal CanadiensNHL12 0 22 2|        
  Timrå IKSHL10 3 58 4|        
  Finland (all)International3 0 00 0|        
  Finland EHT3 0 00 0|        

Highlights