Oliver Kapanen isn’t easing into the new season with modest goals.
The Montreal Canadiens forward has set the bar at the highest possible level, saying the Stanley Cup is the target.
That kind of language stands out, especially from a young player still carving out his place. Kapanen, who scored 22 goals in his first full NHL season, made it clear he sees a team ready to keep pushing after last year’s playoff breakthrough.
"We've got a really good team together, and like we saw last year, we're capable of competing with the best. We'll take the next step from there and go all the way."
His comments line up with the tone inside the Canadiens’ room. After reaching the Eastern Conference Final, Montreal is not approaching this season like a team content with a nice run and a pat on the back.
Kapanen was pointing directly to last season’s postseason, when the Canadiens got past the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres. That run appears to have left a mark on the group, and on the young Finn in particular.
It also says plenty about the environment Martin St-Louis has helped build. A player in Kapanen’s position could have played it safe. Instead, he spoke like someone who expects more.
Whether Montreal can turn that confidence into results in an Atlantic Division that remains extremely competitive is still an open question. But there’s no mistaking the mindset.
Kapanen also said he sees his future in Montreal for the long haul and would like to be part of the Canadiens “for as long as possible.”
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Canadiens Blue Line Suddenly Carries One Huge Burden This Season
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What makes this group so fascinating is how much is still being built around them. The veterans and prospects around the top pair will have roles to settle, and the organization needs more than promise from a few young defenders if it wants the unit to hold up over a full season. Hutsons stock is already obvious, while Dobsons first taste of Canadiens playoff hockey only added another layer to the evaluation, leaving Montreal with plenty to like and a few key questions still hanging over its back end. [Read more 🡒]