Canadiens’ Oliver Kapanen hopes to build off NHL experience
This story appeared on hockeysverige.se this week and has been translated from Swedish to English.
For most of the fall, it’s been uncertain where Oliver Kapanen would play this season.
After a productive season with KalPa in Liiga, the Finnish forward signed with Timrå in the SHL, where his dad, Kimmo Kapanen, happens to be the GM. But during the summer, he also signed his ELC with the Montréal Canadiens, opening the door to the NHL.
Kapanen started the season in Canada, but the Canadiens elected to send the 21-year-old back to develop in Sweden. Hence, he’s been loaned to Timrå for the rest of the season.
“Everything was good, just as I expected it to be,” Kapanen said. “Montréal, the city, and the team were great.”
How did you experience the attention around you in Montréal, which is a hockey town?
“Montréal has an amazing fan base. When you walk around the city, you feel like everyone there lives for hockey. On game days, people walk around wearing jerseys on the streets. It was really cool to see.”
Kapanen managed to play 12 games with Montréal before it was decided he would return to Sweden.
How do you look back on your first game?
“I was quite nervous. We played Boston on the road, and it was a good place to play as well.”
This means he’s been able to play for the same organization that Finnish legend Saku Koivu played for from 1995 to 2009.
“Of course, it means something to me. I heard a lot about Saku when I was over there. He was their captain (for nine seasons) and has a fantastic history with the club. It certainly adds something extra for me to hear all that Saku did for Montréal. It was fun.”
Have you spoken with Saku Koivu about what to expect in Montréal?
“No, I’ve never talked to Saku. Hopefully, I’ll get to do that one day,” Kapanen says with a smile.
From now on, he’ll focus on becoming a productive player for Timrå in the SHL. He spent the pre-season with the team and got to know his teammates – as well as the coach: former NHL star Olli Jokinen.
“I was here for six weeks before I went over to Montréal,” Kapanen said. “I played a few preseason games, so not much is new for me now that I’m back. Those were six important weeks for me. I got to know the guys, the playing system, and the coaches. It was just about getting back into it with a few days of practice to adjust, deal with jetlag and everything, and it feels good to be back.”
As for what the Canadiens feel about him?
“They’re pleased with me. There are a few things I need to improve, but I hope that next season I’ll be ready to play in the NHL,” Kapanen said. “Both the club and I felt that the best thing for me was to come here to Timrå to take the next step toward the NHL. Now I’m here, I’ll train hard and play well. Hopefully, we’ll win many hockey games and be a strong team in the playoffs. That’s my goal.”
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