Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

We just had a great announcement from the Montreal Canadiens. This was clearly not the initial plan, but now that his season in Sweden has ended, here comes forward Oliver Kapanen to join as reinforcement.

He will apparently move ahead of Joshua Roy and Michael Pezzetta in the hierarchy, and he will arrive right in the middle of the playoff race for the Canadiens.

Here is the official confirmation from the Canadiens:

Kapanen will join the team a little later today, which is great news.

Oliver Kapanen arrives as reinforcement in Montreal: Does Joshua Roy lose his spot?

Initially, as he himself mentioned during his most recent press conference, Kent Hughes’ plan was to send Kapanen to the Laval Rocket upon his return from Europe.. But now, here he is, immediately back in the National Hockey League and in Martin St-Louis’ lineup.

Do you like this decision?

I can only speculate, but I have the feeling that if Joshua Roy had been convincing since his recall, Kapanen would never have been given this opportunity to finish the season in Montreal.

Everything suggests that Kapanen will indeed surpass Michael Pezzetta and Joshua Roy in the hierarchy.

“It’s the Canadiens, not the Rocket, that Oliver Kapanen will be joining, at least for now.

Let’s be honest, he’ll be an upgrade over Michael Pezzetta!”

– MOB

Kapanen, who is 21 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall, and weighs 194 pounds, was a second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2021.

He earned 35 points in 36 games this season in the SHL, including 15 goals, in addition to three points in five playoff games.

With the Montreal Canadiens, in 12 games earlier this current 2024-25 campaign, he recorded 2 points.