Canadiens sign forward Oliver Kapanen to three-year, entry-level contract
Sweden's Fabian Lysell checks Finland's Oliver Kapanen during second period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarter-final hockey action in Moncton, N.B., on Monday, January 2, 2023. The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Kapanen to a three-year, entry-level contract on Saturday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ron Ward
MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Oliver Kapanen to a three-year, entry-level contract on Saturday.
Kapanen had 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 51 games playing for KalPa Kuopio in the Liiga in Finland this past season.
The 20-year-old centre added 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 13 playoff games to be in a five-way tie atop the leaderboard in points and ranking second in goals.
Kapanen also represented Finland at this year's world hockey championship, where he led his team with six goals in eight games.
He ranked fifth among all players in goals, tied with four others.
Kapanen was a second-round selection (64th overall) by the Canadiens in the 2021 draft.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2024.
The Canadian Press