Canadiens make dreaded Oliver Kapanen roster decision

Everyone knew there was a possibility it could happen, so no one should've been caught off guard when the Montreal Canadiens announced on Wednesday that they were loaning Oliver Kapanen back to Timra IK in the Swedish Hockey League. Olli Jokinen clarified that a spot on the top line in Timra was waiting for him if the Canadiens made that decision, and the team felt it was the right place for Kapanen.

Don't let the success of Kapanen's preseason cloud the fact that it hasn't gone as smoothly during the regular season. He had been regularly playing bottom-six minutes and was a valuable player for the team, but only contributed two assists in 14 games. He was also a -4, which, considering the struggle on defense this season, isn't a terrible stat.

The Canadiens may have found a reason to keep Kapanen in the fold if they were a contending team this season. He brought value to the bottom six and could play up the lineup if the injury bug hit. He also afforded some insurance if things went south for any players in the top six, and the roster needed a shake-up. However, the loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night might've been the final nail in the coffin.

Kapanen will be a player who the Canadiens rely on in the coming years. Montreal will eventually get out of the rebuild and start contending, and Kapanen will play a massive role in that. With the current roster struggling to win and falling to a terrible place in the league's hierarchy, why keep Kapanen around to go through the troubles?

Timra is in the middle of the pack in the SHL. Kapanen should help the team overcome its .500 record. The Canadiens want Kapanen to learn what it's like to play with a winning team, and he certainly will not know that playing with this team in 2024-25. The fans may not like it, but with the current situation in Montreal, this is Kent Hughes's correct decision for the future of Oliver Kapanen's career.