The Montreal Canadiens' 21-year-old prospect Oliver Kapanen officially left the team and returned to Europe after a tough start in the NHL.
During the training camp, one of the biggest surprises was Oliver Kapanen. The 64th overall pick in 2021 came in Montreal last September with one goal in mind: make the team. By tallying four points, including one goal in four preseason games, he proved that he was ready for a bigger challenge.
The Habs had their hands cuffed. They either keep him in their lineup or send him back to Europe, as he's not eligible to play in the AHL.
Kapanen took part in 12 games this season and scored two points while averaging ten to twelve minutes of ice time. Since the start of the season, he never really showed signs of progression, failing to convince management he deserved to stay in the NHL.
In breaking news, the organization decided to send him back to Europe. He is set to return to the Timra IK in the SHL for the rest of the season.
To replace him on the lineup, the Habs called up the Laval Rocket captain Lucas Condotta.
Here's the team's official statement:
In his career, Condotta, 27, played four games in the NHL and tallied one goal. This season, in the AHL, the forward scored four points, all assists, in nine games.
The Laval Rocket is currently on a seven-game winning streak, at the top of their division with 16 points in nine games. Fans have been wondering when the Canadiens management would bring up some of the successful players in Laval to the NHL, but many were hoping to see another top prospect get the call: Joshua Roy.
Roy, considered one of the best players not playing in the NHL, could bring a lot to the team. His natural talent and great playmaking skills would be useful for the Habs, who have one of the worst offensive records in the League, with only 35 goals scored since the season began. With Laine still recovering from his injury, the Canadiens could use Roy on their top six, but it seems they preferred to call Condotta for a bottom-six role.
