Oliver Kapanen's season has not gone according to plan. During the preseason, it looked like the Montreal Canadiens planned to reunite the “Kid Line,” with Kapanen centring the second line alongside Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov. That trio has yet to play together, with Kapanen and Demidov missing time due to injury.
Kapanen returned from his lower-body injury in the Canadiens' 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres. With Demidov out and Slafkovsky back on the first line, Kapanen’s role was different. He lined up on the right wing on the team’s fourth line and played the same role in the Canadiens' next game against the San Jose Sharks. An opportunity presented itself for Kapanen when captain Nick Suzuki injured his left hand, which will sideline him for two to four weeks.
With Suzuki sidelined, Kapanen has gone from playing on the fourth line to centring the Canadiens' top line. He has been held pointless through his four games this season, but he should be given time to prove that he can help keep the Canadiens afloat until Suzuki returns. More importantly, this is an opportunity for Kapanen to prove that he can be the team's long-term solution at second-line centre.
Kapanen does not need to replace Suzuki
Expecting Kapanen to replace Suzuki's production while he is out of the lineup would be unrealistic. Suzuki is more than just his play on the ice. He may not be a vocal leader, but he is someone who leads by example. He has steadily improved in every single season of his career, showcasing his incredible work ethic. Suzuki also proved last season that he is one of the elite centres in the NHL, recording his first 100-point season and winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy. That is asking a lot from Kapanen, who is in his second season and coming off an up-and-down rookie campaign.
Kapanen's performance during the regular season last year was a surprise turn of events. He made a cameo appearance for the Canadiens in the 2024-25 season, but failed to impress during two different stints that year, recording two assists in 18 games. He spent most of that season in Sweden with Timra IK, recording 15 goals and 20 assists in 36 games.
Kapanen proved he was willing to put in the work to improve, and that showed in his rookie season with the Canadiens. His 22 goals last season ranked second among rookies, but as the season went on, Kapanen started to fade. He was held off the scoresheet for long stretches during the second half of the season, scoring just four goals in his final 25 games. Kapanen was often a healthy scratch during the playoffs, and entering this season, he needed to prove he could be more consistent.
Now tasked with helping the Canadiens stay afloat without Suzuki, Kapanen has an opportunity to show that he can contribute in a larger role. What Kapanen does well does not always show up on the stat sheet. Arguably, his best attribute is his hockey IQ. He is solid defensively and knows where to find open space in the offensive zone to be effective. We saw Kapanen's excellent positioning on display during the Canadiens' Heritage Classic matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. In the third period, Kapanen slipped away from his defender, leaving himself wide open in front of the net. He just could not bury his chance off a pass from Kaiden Guhle.
Kapanen’s audition for the second line
Kapanen may not be everyone's cup of tea because his game is not flashy. He will not pick up the puck in the neutral zone and deke three players, setting up a highlight-reel goal like Demidov. He does not have an incredible shot like Cole Caufield or the physical gifts of Slafkovsky. What Kapanen does have is a very good understanding of the game, knowing where to go on the ice to generate secondary chances. He knows how to complement his linemates, which we saw last season when he was on a line with Slafkovsky and Demidov.
He is now being asked to replicate his rookie success on the team’s top line, which could also be a test to see if he can be the long-term solution to the Canadiens’ second-line centre problem. Montreal's front office has been open about its desire to upgrade the top six, with Dylan Larkin at the forefront of the trade rumours. It would take a serious package to acquire someone like Larkin, but if Kapanen can produce and help the Canadiens win with Suzuki out of the lineup, it could go a long way in how the organization views him.
This is not to say that Kapanen’s play will eliminate the idea of the Canadiens trying to acquire a legitimate second-line centre, but it gives the organization a better understanding of what the Finnish centre can provide to the team. You could also look at it from the standpoint that it is a way for the Canadiens to raise Kapanen’s value as they continue to search for a second-line centre. Either way, Kapanen’s play over the next couple of weeks could have a strong impact on the team moving forward.
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