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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
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Stats – Frozen Tools – Profile on FT

SeasonLeagueTeamGPGAPTSPIM+/-
2024-2025NHLMontreal Canadiens180222-5
2024-2025SHLTimra IK36152035123
2024-2025EHTFinland61014-1
2023-2024WCFinland860641
2023-2024Spengler CupKalPa301140
2023-2024LiigaKalPa51142034320
2023-2024EHTFinland612323
2022-2023WJC-20Finland U2052130-1
2022-2023LiigaKalPa55121527286
2021-2022WJC-20Finland U20711241
2021-2022U20 SM-sarjaKalPa U2011781504
2021-2022MestisIPK81342-3
2021-2022LiigaKalPa161122-4
2021-2022LiigaKarpat202203
2020-2021WJC-18Finland U1840002-4
2020-2021U20 SM-sarjaKalPa U203725164126-1
2020-2021MestisJoKP5325122
2019-2020U20 SM-liigaKalPa U20210100
2019-2020U18 SM-sarjaKalPa U1844232750280
2018-2019U16 SM-sarjaKalPa U161681018140

Highlights