The Oliver Kapanen name is beginning to resonate among some of the more savvy fringe of Montreal Canadiens fans. Without fanfare, the CH second round election (64th overall) 2021 is asserting itself this season in one of the best leagues in the world, the Finnish Liiga.

On Twitter, former recruiter Grant McCagg, now head of specialist website Recrutes.ca, even called Kapanen “the organization’s most underappreciated hope”. One may question the legitimacy of this claim, but the young man’s coast is undeniably on the rise.

On November 26, the Kalpa forward recorded the best playing time of his Liiga career; almost 21 minutes of play against Assat de Pori. A rare fact at a circuit where coaches are used to giving priority to veterans.

“I’m a versatile player who can carry multiple roles within a team,” the main prospect told TVASports.ca. It’s my greatest quality. So I have the coach’s confidence. That’s why I think I get so many minutes.”

Kalpa head trainer Tommi Miettinen says he has seen phenomenal progress with his foal.

“He made giant leaps in all facets of the game,” reveals the hockey man in a telephone interview. He’s stronger, faster and plays an effective two-way game.”

Knowing that coaches mostly sing the praises of their player, Miettinen didn’t give the impression of giving this interview to play the violin. He admits he was lukewarm compared to Kapanen before the start of the season.

“Last year he was able to play a good period and I wasn’t sure what I was going to get next year. Now he is an important player for us. It’s a turning point for our team because I didn’t really think I would trust him this season.”

Kapanen, who settled for 11 minutes and crumbs in 2021-2022, is now used on special teams and sometimes against the best opposing elements, he controlling Kalpa’s third line down the centre.

“I used him for 5 or 6 games in the first wave of our power play,” Miettinen said. he was so good I also often send him on the first wave of our numerical inferiority.”

LUOSTARINES 2.0

In his first year behind Kalpa-Bank, Miettinen also mentored Kasperi Kapanen, Oliver’s cousin, as an assistant coach. Kasperi, who currently plays with the Pittsburgh Penguins, notably scored 20 goals with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018-2019.

It looks like Oliver has the potential to surpass him in a couple of years.

“Kasperi had very good physical tools, including excellent speed. But Oliver is a much smarter player in my eyes. His hockey IQ is well above Kasperi’s. He’s a more complete player.”

Miettinen believes that in the long run Oliver Kapanen could become an improved, more attacking version of Eetu Luostarinen, another of his former players at Kalpa. Luostarinen has 13 points, including six goals, in 24 games with the Florida Panthers this season.

“Luostarinen was also a player who got involved in all aspects of the game. But maybe Oliver has more potential to score and produce goals.” Oliver certainly has a better shot. Its ceiling is higher.

PATIENCE

Bleu Blanc Rouge fans who want to see Kapanen live at work will have to wait. The main prospect is in no hurry to land in North America, even if his contract with Kalpa expires at the end of the season.

“I actually think I’ll stay in Europe for a season or two to improve,” replies the center player when asked about the possibility of joining Rocket next year. When I’m ready, I’ll come to Laval or Montreal.”

“The NHL game these days is very, very fast hockey. Your skating must be great. He has to improve that if he wants to reach the highest level. Maybe in two years when he’s ready,” confirms his coach Miettinen. “But you know, these talented players can improve significantly in six months, as Oliver has shown. So you never know.”

Such a development plan had paid off in the case of Artturi Lehkonen, who had played three seasons in Europe after being called up by the Habs, one in the Liiga and two in the Swedish league. Lehkonen then secured a place at the big club from his first training camp with the side in 2016.

When it’s time for Kapanen to set foot on Montreal soil, he will be familiar with the game of Juraj Slafkovsky, who he faced in the Liiga last season.

“He’s a big guy, he’s strong with the puck. It wasn’t easy playing against him!”

CAPANS AND HOCKEY

A cousin who plays with the penguins in Kasperi. An uncle who played over 800 NHL games in Sami. A father and grandfather, Kimmo and Hannu, who had a long career in Europe as goalkeepers. A great uncle, Jari, who also played professionally in attack in Finland.

Oliver was destined to earn his living at an ice rink. He also made his first steps in goal, following in the footsteps of dad and grandpa.

“I didn’t become a striker until I was 10 or 11. It was too boring to stay in the semicircle. There was nothing exciting about that!” he says, laughing at the end of the line. “But I think knowing how to outsmart opposing goalkeepers helped me later on. My father gave me threads to help bluff their vigilance.

In an interview with the Journal de Montreal in August, during the World Junior Championships, the coach of the Finnish delegation, Antti Pennanen, said about Kapanen that he was the smartest player in the family.

But there was a but: He also criticized him for being too nice on the ice and for lacking aggressiveness.

“I agree with Antti,” Kapanen responds upon noticing these comments. I think that’s what I’ve improved the most in my game this year. I had to bring more power in one-on-one situations in the corners.”

Kapanen is an easy target in the Liiga. Wearing his RedBull helmet, he’s hard to miss. The top scorer under 20 of each team on the Finnish circuit has the honor of wearing it.

“Oliver is still young, so they put him to the test every night,” Miettinen said. They try to make life difficult for him. But now he is firmly fighting with the opposing players. I’ve been waiting to see that side of him, that level of competition it takes to fight with the best.

POINTS ON THE “Is”.

With 12 points, including six goals, in 27 games in the Liiga, Oliver Kapanen is second in the league among players under 20 years of age.

Numbers like these do him no favors compared to rising Habs Sean Farrell, Lane Hutson, Owen Beck and Joshua Roy but there is plenty to do in producing a young player in Finland. . As proof, Juraj Slafkovsky currently has a better points average per game with the Habs than he did with TPS Turku last year.

The Liiga is a very defensive league. The rinks are larger and very few mistakes are made there. In a typical Liiga game, there are far fewer attacking actions than in North America.

“In Finland we ask our young players to have a very good defense and a solid attitude on both sides of the ice,” says Miettinen. Of course, this will affect their playing time, which is why Finland also performs well in international tournaments. Our teams are well positioned defensively. It’s part of our identity.”

“I think the best is coming in this direction,” Kapanen, for his part, predicts his production.

Offensively, expectations will be higher at the next Junior World Championships. Oliver Kapanen will then serve as a veteran on this team, risking great responsibility both on the ice and in the dressing room.

“I’m curious if he’ll be chosen captain because I haven’t seen how he behaves with players his age,” Miettinen confides in his young striker, who doesn’t take up too much space in Kalpa’s dressing room because of his 19 years.

BULK MATERIAL

• Kapanen shone at the 5-nation tournament in the Czech Republic in early November, scoring three goals in as many games for Finland
• The 2021-2022 season has been tough for the young forward who has played in three leagues and four different teams. “It was difficult,” he admits. I tried to keep smiling. You never really knew who and where you were going to play for. But I got through it and came out better equipped.
• Kalpa head coach Tommi Miettinen admits he is concerned about the busy schedule of the young striker, who played at the World Cup in August and will return over the holiday season. “When we started the season he was at the Junior World Championships and that’s where he will be again. It’s going to be really tough on his body. He will be tired at certain times of the season, that’s to be expected.