We had an interesting announcement from the Montreal Canadiens during General Manager Kent Hughes’ press conference.

He confirmed that reinforcements are coming to the offense, as forward Oliver Kapanen will immediately cross the ocean and join the organization once his season in Sweden is over.

Please note that the SHL regular season ends in early March, so very soon.

Thus, we will have to monitor the progress of Timra’s roster in the coming days. If they are eliminated quickly, we could see Kapanen arrive in Quebec fairly soon.

Here is the exact statement:

This will be something to watch because, following the NHL trade deadline, we can officially say that the Habs have a big hole to fill at center.

Owen Beck is currently playing the role of second-line center, and he’s not doing too badly, but Martin St-Louis doesn’t seem to have much confidence in him since Beck is only playing 7-8 minutes per game.

Could Kapanen get his chance?

This will be a situation to monitor once Timra is eliminated.

It could happen fairly quickly.

This was mentioned during the press conference below:

Oliver Kapanen could come help the Montreal Canadiens and/or the Laval Rocket.

A story to follow!

The Montreal Canadiens have recently made strategic moves to bolster their offensive lineup:

• Acquisition of Patrik Laine: On August 19, 2024, the Canadiens traded defenseman Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round pick. Laine, known for his goal-scoring prowess, is expected to significantly enhance Montreal’s offensive capabilities.

• Signing of Alex Barré-Boulet: On July 1, 2024, the Canadiens signed forward Alex Barré-Boulet to a one-year contract. Barré-Boulet brings versatility and playmaking skills to the team’s forward group.

These additions aim to strengthen the Canadiens’ offensive depth as they strive for improved performance in the ongoing season.