The Canadiens may be at the point where Oliver Kapanen’s trade value matters more than his current role in Montreal.
Marco D’Amico reports that the club is trying to sell high on Kapanen after the forward’s strong season last year, banking on the idea that his value is still tied more to that production than to what he has shown so far this season. D’Amico said, "From what I've been hearing, Oliver Kapanen is the player [the Canadiens] are trying to sell high on based on his season last year."
That approach has some logic to it. Kapanen’s name has already been floating around in trade talk since late October, and reports have linked him to a possible deal with Detroit, which reportedly asked for Kapanen and Adam Engstrom in a potential move involving Dylan Larkin.
On the ice, Kapanen has not given Montreal much to work with this season. The 23-year-old has only two points, though he does have a +4 rating. Against Minnesota last night, he skated just 10:17 and finished with two shots in an overtime loss, a usage pattern that naturally invites questions about where he fits in the Canadiens’ plans.
Still, the broader picture helps explain why Montreal could at least listen. Kapanen has 23 goals in 111 NHL games, solid output for a former second-round pick taken 64th overall in 2021. He is also heading toward the end of his entry-level deal, which expires after this season and will make him a restricted free agent.
The Canadiens are not forced into anything right away, but the roster picture is getting tighter. As reported November 6, Beck and Xhekaj were out of the lineup, Demidov was injured, and Dach had returned, leaving Kent Hughes with a crowded forward group to sort through.
For now, Montreal can afford to be selective. The team sits fifth in the NHL after a 7-0-3 stretch over its last 10 games, and Boston is next on Thursday.
So the real question is simple: does another team value Kapanen enough to make moving him worthwhile? If the answer is yes, the Canadiens may decide that now is the time to cash in.
In Other News...
Canadiens Suddenly Face A Bigger Concern Ahead Of Bruins Trip
Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans were both absent from Canadiens practice Wednesday, with the team classifying the missed session as maintenance following the clubs most recent game. Montreal confirmed the two forwards were not on the ice but did not offer any further detail, leaving the group to sort through a little more uncertainty as it prepares for a trip to Boston.
Suzukis status is the more notable concern because he briefly left Tuesdays game before returning and scoring Montreals only goal, while Evans had already been managing discomfort since Monday. For a team heading into a divisional matchup with the Bruins, any question about the availability of two important centers is worth watching closely, especially with no immediate update on whether either will be ready to go. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Caufield Just Sparked A Bigger Canadiens Debate Than The Loss
Cole Caufield turned a frustrating night into a larger conversation for the Canadiens after Montreals overtime loss to Minnesota, shifting the focus from the result to how NHL games are being officiated. The forward took aim at the way referees handle controversial calls, adding another layer to a game that already left the Canadiens with plenty to sort through.
What made his comments resonate was the broader point behind them: Caufield wants more accountability from officials and believes they should be able to explain what they saw instead of simply signaling a penalty and moving on. For a Canadiens team still chasing consistency, it is the kind of postgame critique that can linger well beyond one loss, especially when it taps into a league-wide debate about transparency on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Suzuki Scare Had Canadiens Fans Holding Their Breath
Nick Suzuki gave Canadiens fans a scare in the third period, leaving the game briefly before returning to the ice and settling things down in a hurry. Montreals captain has been a central part of the clubs offense all season, appearing in 12 of the teams 18 games and continuing to drive play at the top of the lineup.
The good news for Montreal is that the concern did not linger long after the final whistle, with the team indicating Suzuki is fine after his short absence. Even so, any moment like that tends to tighten the mood around a team that leans so heavily on its top center, especially when he has been one of the most important contributors to the Canadiens attack. [Read more 🡒]