Oliver Kapanen Will Represent Finland At The Olympics

Kapanen last represented Finland on the world stage during the 2024 World Championships, despite not having played an NHL game yet. During that tournament he played great with 6 goals in 8 games, leading Finland in both goals and points that year. Add that to how he’s having a great rookie year with the Habs, where he’s scored 12 goals and 21 points in 40 games thus far, and it is no surprise that he has snuck his way onto the Finnish Olympic team.

When you analyze the fact that he was used as a scorer in the World Championships with players who were said to be better than him. Then look at how the same thing is happening this year with the Canadiens; it becomes clear that Kapanen is meant to be a complementary piece to whatever line he plays with at any level. With that being said, Kapanen could find himself on any of the 4 lines for Finland during the tournament come February.

One of the main reasons for the fact that Kapanen can play in all situations is, to quote Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, “Kapanen has an elite hockey computer.” What this means is that Kapanen has an elite hockey IQ and can read the game incredibly well. This also explains how he seems to always be in the right spot to receive a pass from his much more experienced linemates, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov. Sometimes, Kapanen’s contributions to his line even get overlooked, but the 22-year-old plays a solid game that allows his linemates to record points simply by getting in the right areas on the ice.

Kapanen’s pure skill may not be anything more than a bottom-six forward, but what separates him from those of the same skill is that he has the IQ to position himself for success. This is why he can play up and down in a lineup, where he can fit in well with better players. Finland also named another player who plays very similarly and is a former Habs player, Artturi Lehkonen.

While both players are very skilled hockey players, they don’t have the typical skill that is needed to be a top 6 forward, and yet their hockey IQ allows them to be successful with much better linemates. Lehkonen has had great success since being traded to the Colorado Avalanche alongside superstar players like Nathan MacKinnon and either Mikko Rantanen or Martin Necas. As a result, Lehkonen has been able to turn himself into a very solid 2-way winger that scores about 25 goals a season, which is about how much Kapanen may end up with by playing with elite playmakers like Demidov or Slafkovsky. Kapanen may not play MacKinnon-level talent but his linemates are definitely star players now.

The two forwards are also mainstays on their team’s respective penalty kill units, as their elite hockey IQs give them the ability to play a solid 200-foot game. The one big difference is that Kapanen plays centre, whereas Lehkonen is a winger. This is something that makes Kapanen even more versatile, as he could also play on the wing. The role that Kapanen will likely play is that of a Swiss army knife, as he can do a little bit of everything.

It will be interesting to see how Kapanen is used, but he should be able to fill any role that is asked of him. Whether it’s on the top line or the 4th line, he will be able to play an important role for Finland at the Olympics.

Were you surprised that Kapanen made Finland’s Olympic roster as a rookie?