Oliver Kapanen Is Failing to Answer Canadiens’ Biggest Question

Last season, Kapanen averaged 14:28 per game, but that number has dropped to just 12:40 this year. That is nearly two minutes less per night, suggesting that the Canadiens coaching staff has not been particularly impressed with his performances either.

For a young player trying to establish himself as a reliable middle-six centre, that is certainly not the direction he wants to be heading. Kapanen does not necessarily need to score 25 goals every season to be valuable, but Montreal needs more from someone who was expected to help solidify its centre depth.

Failing to Step Up Without Suzuki

When Nick Suzuki went down with an injury, the Canadiens suddenly found themselves without their captain and undisputed number-one centre. While losing Suzuki was obviously a massive blow, it also presented Kapanen with an opportunity to prove he could handle additional responsibilities.

At one point, he was even given the chance to play alongside Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovský on Montreal’s top line. Unfortunately, the experiment was far from successful. Despite playing alongside two of the team’s most talented offensive players, Kapanen struggled to generate much offensively and failed to establish himself as a reliable replacement.

Nobody expected him to replicate Suzuki’s production, but the Canadiens certainly needed more than what he provided. In fact, considering their respective performances, both Phillip Danault and Jake Evans have made stronger cases for additional ice time than Kapanen. Neither player necessarily possesses the offensive upside that Montreal once envisioned for the Finnish centre, but both bring reliability, defensive awareness and consistency to the lineup.

Another interesting development has been Owen Beck’s emergence. The young centre has recorded three points in five games, already surpassing Kapanen’s offensive production despite playing fewer games. Beck is still developing, but his performances have been encouraging and could eventually make Kapanen’s position within the organization increasingly uncertain.

The Second-Line Centre Position Remains Open

If there is one thing Kapanen’s struggles have demonstrated, it is that the Canadiens still lack a legitimate second-line centre. Suzuki has established himself as one of the league’s best centres, but behind him, Montreal still has plenty of uncertainty. Danault and Evans are valuable players, but neither represents the long-term offensive solution the Canadiens need behind their captain.

Kapanen was supposed to be part of that conversation. Unfortunately, his performances have done little to suggest he is ready for such a responsibility. And with Michael Hage potentially joining the organization in the relatively near future, Kapanen could find himself facing even more competition.

Hage possesses tremendous offensive upside and could eventually become the second-line centre Montreal has been searching for. Meanwhile, Beck’s development gives the organization another interesting young option down the middle.

That brings up another possibility, could Kapanen eventually become expendable? It is certainly not something the Canadiens need to rush into, especially considering his age and what he accomplished last season. However, if Montreal decides to acquire an established second-line centre, Kapanen could become an interesting piece to include in a potential trade package.

Ultimately, eight games should not erase a 22-goal season, but Kapanen needs to start producing if he wants to remain an important part of Montreal’s long-term plans. The Canadiens have plenty of talent throughout their lineup. What they still need is someone capable of consistently driving their second line.