All Montreal Hockey has no direct affiliation to the Montreal Canadiens, NHL or NHLPA
Kent Hughes is turned down by a prospect who signs in Europe
We were expecting Kent Hughes to reach an agreement with the young and very promising Oliver Kapanen, but that doesn't seem to be the case for now.
Indeed, after an excellent playoff performance in the SHL, where Kapanen accumulated 14 points in 13 games, the spotlight was on him, to the point where it seemed like the red carpet was being rolled out by Kent Hughes.
However, that's not the case after all, as he has chosen to sign a two-season contract with Timra IK in the SHL, his father's team.
"Oliver Kapanen officially signs with Timra IK in the SHL. The contract is set to expire at the end of the 25-26 season.
If the Canadiens sign him to his ELC this summer, he would only be forced to go back to Sweden for the 24-25 season, and would be free to cross over in 25-26."
- Marco D'Amico
If the Canadiens sign him to his ELC this summer, he would only be forced to go back to Sweden for the 24-25 season, and would be free to cross over in 25-26."
- Marco D'Amico
If Kent Hughes decides to sign him this summer, he could technically arrive in North America for the 2025-26 season and burn his first year of the contract.
This signing guarantees that he won't go to the American League this year and will remain in Europe, with the same option next year if the Canadiens make him an offer now.
Kapanen was a second-round pick, 64th overall in 2021. He was selected after Logan Mailloux by the Canadiens.
| POLL | ||
MAI 9 | 266 ANSWERS Kent Hughes is turned down by a prospect who signs in Europe In your opinion, will Kent Hughes sign Oliver Kapanen this summer in an attempt to bring him over by the summer of 2025? | ||
| Yes | 194 | 72.9 % |
| No | 72 | 27.1 % |
| List of polls | ||