| Birth Date: | 29 July 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Timrå, Sweden |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 1 |
| Weight Lbs: | 179 |
| Position: | Centre |
| Shoots: | Right |
| League: | NHL |
| Team: | Montreal Canadiens |
| Prospect League: | SHL |
| Prospect Team: | Timrå IK |
| Former Teams: | KalPa Oulun Kärpät |
| Ntl Team: | FIN |
| Draft: | 64th overall |
| Draft Year: | 2021 |
| Draft Team: | Montreal Canadiens |
| Career Start: | 2021 |
Oliver Kapanen (born 29 July 2003) is a Sweden-born Finnish[1] professional ice hockey centre for Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 64th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL entry draft.
Kapanen was drafted in the second round, 64th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2021 NHL entry draft.[2] He made his professional debut for KalPa during the 2021–22 season.[3]
Following three seasons with KalPa, Kapanen opted to continue his development in the neighbouring Swedish Hockey League (SHL), joining Timrå IK on a two-year contract on 9 May 2024.[4]
On 15 June 2024, Kapanen signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens.[5] Thereafter, Kapanen was named to the Canadiens' opening night roster for the 2024–25 season.[6] After being a healthy scratch for the first game of the season, he made his NHL debut on 10 October, replacing Emil Heineman on the team's fourth line.[7] He recorded an assist on Josh Anderson's third period goal for his first career NHL point.[8] [9] Following 12 appearances with the Canadiens, Kapanen would be loaned back to Timrå IK on 6 November 2024.[10]
Kapanen represented Finland at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships where he appeared in four games.[11] He likewise represented Finland at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships winning a silver medal,[12] [13] and again in 2023.[14]
In May 2024, Kapanen would make his senior debut for Finland at the IIHF Ice Hockey Championships in Prague, recording a team-leading six goals in tournament play.[15]
Kapanen comes from a hockey playing family. He is the grandson of former professional hockey player Hannu Kapanen and the son of Kimmo Kapanen. He is the great-nephew of, nephew of Sami Kapanen and cousin of Kasperi Kapanen and .[16]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |||||
| 2019–20 | KalPa | FIN U20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | KalPa | FIN U20 | 37 | 25 | 16 | 41 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Jokipojat | Mestis | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | KalPa | FIN U20 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 14 | ||
| 2021–22 | KalPa | Liiga | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | IPK | Mestis | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Kärpät | Liiga | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | KalPa | Liiga | 55 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2023–24 | KalPa | Liiga | 51 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 32 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 | ||
| Liiga totals | 124 | 27 | 38 | 65 | 62 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 12 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Finland | U18 | 4th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2022 | Finland | WJC | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2023 | Finland | WJC | 5th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2024 | Finland | WC | 8th | 8 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 16 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | ||||
| Senior totals | 8 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 | ||||