Oliver Kapanen
| Oliver Kapanen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Kapanen at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships | |||
| Born |
29 July 2003 Timrå, Sweden | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Montreal Canadiens KalPa Oulun Kärpät | ||
| National team |
 Finland | ||
| NHL draft |
64th overall, 2021 Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 2021–present | ||
Oliver Kapanen (born 29 July 2003) is a Sweden-born Finnish[1] professional ice hockey centre for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 64th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL entry draft.
Playing career
[edit]Kapanen was drafted in the second round, 64th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2021 NHL entry draft.[2] He made his professional debut for KalPa during the 2021–22 season.[3]
Following three seasons with KalPa, Kapanen opted to continue his development in the neighbouring Swedish Hockey League (SHL), joining Timrå IK on a two-year contract on 9 May 2024.[4]
On 15 June 2024, Kapanen signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens.[5] Thereafter, Kapanen was named to the Canadiens' opening night roster for the 2024–25 season.[6] After being a healthy scratch for the first game of the season, he made his NHL debut on 10 October, replacing Emil Heineman on the team's fourth line. He recorded an assist on Josh Anderson's third period goal for his first career NHL point.[7][8][9]
International play
[edit]| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Finland
| ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 |
2022 Canada | |
Kapanen represented Finland at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships where he appeared in four games.[10] He likewise represented Finland at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships winning a silver medal,[11][12] and again in 2023.[13]
In May 2024, Kapanen would make his senior debut for Finland at the IIHF Ice Hockey Championships in Prague, recording a team-leading six goals in tournament play.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Kapanen comes from a hockey playing family. He is the grandson of former professional hockey player Hannu Kapanen and the son of Kimmo Kapanen. He is the great-nephew of Jari Kapanen, nephew of Sami Kapanen and cousin of Kasperi Kapanen and Konsta Kapanen.[15]
Career statistics
[edit]Regular season and playoffs
[edit]| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2019–20 | KalPa | FIN U20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | KalPa | FIN U20 | 37 | 25 | 16 | 41 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Jokipojat | Mestis | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | KalPa | FIN U20 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 14 | ||
| 2021–22 | KalPa | Liiga | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | IPK | Mestis | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Kärpät | Liiga | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | KalPa | Liiga | 55 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2023–24 | KalPa | Liiga | 51 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 32 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 | ||
| Liiga totals | 124 | 27 | 38 | 65 | 62 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 12 | ||||
International
[edit]| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Finland | U18 | 4th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2022 | Finland | WJC | 
|
7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2023 | Finland | WJC | 5th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2024 | Finland | WC | 8th | 8 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 16 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | ||||
| Senior totals | 8 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ Bexell, Patrik (6 September 2021). "2021 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #16 Oliver Kapanen". Habs Eyes on the Prize. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ Cudzinowski, Matt (24 July 2021). "Kidney: 'It's a dream come true'". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved 13 December 2021 – via NHL.com.
- ^ Bexell, Patrik (26 October 2021). "European Prospect Report: Oliver Kapanen nets his first Liiga goal". Habs Eyes on the Prize. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Varmt välkommen till Timrå IK - Oliver Kapanen!" [Welcome Oliver Kapanen to Timrå IK] (in Swedish). Timrå IK. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Three-year, entry-level contract for Oliver Kapanen". Montreal Canadiens. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via NHL.com.
- ^ "NHL announces opening night rosters for 2024-25 season". National Hockey League. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ Cowan, Stu (10 October 2024). "Canadiens' Oliver Kapanen will make his NHL debut against Bruins". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Canadiens' Oliver Kapanen: Enters lineup, posts assist". CBS Sports. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "MTL@BOS: Game recap". Montreal Canadiens. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024 – via NHL.com.
- ^ Landvogt, Chapin (26 April 2021). "Who to watch at U18 Worlds". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Kimelman, Adam (8 December 2021). "Sweden announces roster for 2022 World Junior Championship". National Hockey League. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew (21 August 2022). "Canada claims summertime gold in OT". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ Bexell, Patrik (6 December 2022). "Oliver Kapanen named to the Finland World Junior roster". Habs Eyes on the Prize. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ Johnston, Chris (4 June 2024). "Canadiens' Oliver Kapanen, latest progeny of Finland's first hockey family, forging NHL path his 'own way'". Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "Kapanen relishes bloodlines in draft journey". FCHockey. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
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