Oliver Kapanen wants to be an all situations player for the Habs
Oliver Kapanen has been impressive at the Montreal Canadiens camp, showing the foundation for a 200-foot game. His hopes are to be relied upon by his coach in all situations, which seems fitting.
From one number 91 to another in Montreal, the Canadiens are hoping Oliver Kapanen can be a great two-way presence for the team like Sean Monahan before him.
Monahan set a high bar, and I’m not suggesting he needs to reach that level, but the smart two-way games are a fun comparison. They both play the game on the entire 200-foot sheet of ice. And while their puck skills don’t stand out as elite, their decision-making is top-tier.
Kapanen seemed to be on the same level as Owen Beck when training camp started, but Kapanen quickly pulled ahead. It’s not that Beck isn’t a talented player, but Kapanen’s professional experience paid off for him. Kapanen appears poised to snag a spot with the big club.
“I wanna be on the ice in every situation. I wanna be the player who the coach can trust.”
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) October 2, 2024
- Oliver Kapanen tonight pic.twitter.com/Jt5W03OTBy
He stated that he wants the coaching staff to be able to trust him in all situations. Not often do you hear a young player coming in talking about wanting to be relied upon offensively and defensively. But that shouldn’t surprise anybody, because Kapanen has played the part of a strong two-way presence throughout camp and that is why he is on the cusp of cracking the Habs roster.
The prototypical third line centre?
It will be a while before the Canadiens know what they truly have with Kapanen. But to start the 2024-25 season, it’s a safe bet to assume that Kapanen can slot into a third-line role. With Christian Dvorak playing centre, he will likely slot onto the wing.
However, if he can prove by the trade deadline that he has the chops to be the club’s third-line centre, that could mean Kent Hughes makes some moves. While Dvorak has battled injuries, when he is healthy he makes a difference on the defensive side of the puck. Kapanen does work on both sides of the puck, which could help the team prevent goals against and hopefully increase their goal output.
Fortunately for Kapanen, he will be eased in and have every opportunity to take over the third-line centre duties. It will be a battle, but iron sharpens irons. If he wants the spot, it is there for the taking, and if he earns it, it will prove that he is one of the club's best-kept secrets no longer.
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