Oliver Kapanen’s first NHL season with the Montreal Canadiens came with a jolt of production, a rough stretch in the middle and a playoff finish that left plenty to prove heading into year two.
The surprising part of his rookie campaign was just how quickly he forced his way into a bigger role. Martin St-Louis opened the season with Kapanen on the third line alongside Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook, but it did not take long for the coach to see that the trio could handle more. By early November, they had been bumped up to the second line.
Kapanen, the 64th overall pick in the 2021 draft, finished with 37 points in 82 games, including 22 goals. That kind of output was not expected from the then-22-year-old Finn, even if skating next to a talent like Demidov clearly helped unlock offense.
But the season did not stay on that pace. Kapanen hit a wall around the middle of the year, and after returning from the Olympics, he managed only six points in 25 games.
The playoff picture was even tougher. He had trouble matching the speed and intensity of the postseason and ended up watching more than he played.
Kapanen was dressed for just seven playoff games, including four against the Tampa Bay Lightning, one against the Buffalo Sabres and one against the Carolina Hurricanes.
That kind of finish is not exactly the kind of springboard a young player wants. If Kapanen is going to answer it, he will need to put the disappointment behind him quickly and get himself back into the right headspace for another season.
His path this year could depend heavily on where St-Louis decides to place him. If Kapanen is back with Demidov, there is a real chance he can keep building on the offense he showed as a rookie and avoid a sophomore slump. If Kirby Dach gets another crack at a top-six center job, though, the picture gets murkier for Kapanen.
There is also the possibility that St-Louis will be asked to give Dach a look if he is still around, simply to help raise his value on the trade market. Kent Hughes is not the type to sell low, but Dach is said to be on a short leash. With the chances he has already had, and with the sense that he may not fit into Montreal’s long-term plans, the case can be made that Kapanen should get the better opportunities.
Long term, it would be a surprise to see Kapanen hold down a top-six spot for good. On a contender, he profiles better as a third-line center. For now, though, he looks like the most practical stand-in for Michael Hage until Hage arrives, proves himself with the Canadiens and shows he can handle a top-six role.
In Other News...
Stphane Richers Tribute To Claude Lemieux Will Hit Canadiens Fans Hard
Claude Lemieuxs death has landed hard in Montreal, where former Canadiens winger Stphane Richer was among the first to speak publicly about the loss during the Serge Savard Invitational. Richer and Lemieux shared a long friendship that stretched from their playing days through shared Stanley Cup success, and his reaction carried the kind of raw disbelief that comes when a teammate from another era is suddenly gone. For Canadiens fans, it is another reminder of how tightly woven those championship years remain in the citys memory.
Richer also pointed to the more recent moments of reconciliation between the two men, a detail that gives his tribute extra weight. Instead of inviting speculation about how Lemieux died, he urged respect and reflection, a sober note that will resonate with anyone who followed both players through the turbulence and triumph of their careers. In Montreal, where old rivalries and old bonds often live side by side, Richers words feel less like a eulogy than a final salute. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Costly Zachary Bolduc Decision Soon
Zachary Bolduc remains one of the more interesting unfinished items on the Canadiens offseason board, with the restricted free agent still unsigned as Montreal sorts out what kind of player it believes he can become. The longer this drags on, the more the discussion shifts from simple contract mechanics to fit, because his next deal will be shaped as much by usage and opportunity as by raw talent.
A recent projection from CapWages suggests a hefty number, though there is understandable skepticism around any estimate that aggressive this early. What matters more for Montreal is the role it has in mind for Bolduc, and right now that picture is still not fully clear. Until that settles, so does the price tag. [Read more 🡒]