Oliver Kapanen’s performances: the urgency to acquire a center has decreased

Mathis Therrien
Oliver Kapanen’s performances: the urgency to acquire a center has decreased
Credit: Getty Images

Seriously, who would have thought at the start of the season (other than Grant McCagg) that Oliver Kapanen would crack the Canadiens' top-6?

Not only did the Finn make the team, but he established himself as the center of the second line to play with the young Russian gem, Ivan Demidov.

We all thought it would take a big trade to fill the hole at second-line center, but in the end, the solution built itself internally.

Of course, Kapanen isn't perfect, but for a 22-year-old rookie, he offers the Habs some very good performances and stability.

And this revelation of Kapanen as a good young center capable of producing (16 goals and 27 points) has clearly lowered the urgency of acquiring a center on the trade market.

Indeed, that's what Pierre LeBrun said on the Melnick In The Afternoon podcast.

For the reputable tipster, it's almost certain that Kapanen's outfit has calmed the ardor of Kent Hughes and the rest of Habs management.

The Canadiens had been actively looking for a center, and were inquiring about a number of issues, but in the end, Kapanen continued to show that he was more than capable of getting the job done.

This would have slowed down the files with the Calgary Flames, namely those concerning Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri.

Pierre LeBrun believes that, at this point in the season, Coleman is a better fit than Kadri for the Habs.

Kent Hughes inquired about the two veteran centers at various points in the season, but it all became a lot less urgent thanks to Kapanen.

In the end, this is a good thing, because the Habs' in-house solution in the form of #91 cost nothing compared to what the Habs would have had to pay in a trade.

What's more, Kapanen's revelation led the Habs to acquire a lower-quality center at a lower price, namely Phillip Danault.

Kapanen has therefore brought a lot of positives to the Habs, and that's likely to continue for a while yet, and maybe even in the long term if he develops further.


Overtime

– What a goal from Gavin McKenna, who scored a hat trick yesterday.

– Indeed.

– Interesting.

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