The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have signed prospect Oliver Kapanen to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal will expire at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season. The deal was announced by the club on Saturday morning.
Canadiens Ink Oliver Kapanen to Entry-Level Contract
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract (2024-25 to 2026-27) with forward Oliver Kapanen.
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— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 15, 2024
This past season, Kapanen appeared in 51 games for KalPa Kuopio in the SM-Liiga. He would register 14 goals and 34 points. He also registered seven goals and 14 points in 13 playoff games, which was good for finishing second in goals and first in points during the playoffs.
Kapanen also played for Finland in the 2024 IIHF World Championships, where he led his team in goals with six over the span of eight games.
Kapanen was originally drafted by the Canadiens in the second round, 64th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Canadiens Secure Important Part of Their Future
Oliver Kapanen is quickly becoming one of the Canadiens’ top prospects. His play this season in the SM-Liiga was very impressive playing as a 20-year-old in Finland’s top league. His play in the World Hockey Championship just further proves he’s developing quite nicely for the Canadiens. Kapanen joins Owen Beck as the team’s most coveted forwards in the prospect pool. Both should challenge for a roster spot next season.
Kapanen had just recently signed a new contract with Timra in the SHL. However, he will attend training camp with the Canadiens in September. If he does not make the cut, he will be loaned back to Timra in Sweden for the upcoming season due to a clause in the contract. Kapanen should then come to North America full-time after the 2024-25 season. He will then look to earn a full-time roster spot with the Canadiens or play with the Laval Rocket in the AHL.
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