BROSSARD – The Canadiens announced on Wednesday that forward Oliver Kapanen has been loaned to Timra IK in the SHL
The 21-year-old center made his NHL debut this season
The team also recalled forward Lucas Condotta from the Laval Rocket
In four career games with Montreal dating back to 2022-23
Jacob Perreault was reassigned to the Rocket
The Canadiens acquired the forward from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jan Mysak
Plans for a SEK 13 billion large battery anode factory in Timrå
The China-owned company Shanghai Putailai (PTL) was expected to employ 1,900 people
Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt was among the potential customers
Sweden’s Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP) rejected PTL’s application unless the company accepted certain conditions
PTL has now announced that the project will not go ahead
The business conditions for the investment are unfortunately no longer in place
aimed to establish a 100,000-ton annual capacity anode materials plant through PTL’s subsidiary
The facility was intended to strengthen PTL’s position in the European battery supply chain
with the first phase targeting 50,000 tons of capacity by 2025
the Swedish government proposed conditions related to Zichen Sweden’s ownership
PTL found these requirements commercially unfeasible and proposed alternative arrangements
PTL expressed dissatisfaction with the Swedish stance
describing the control-related demands as “unreasonable” and contrary to global trade norms
The company is exploring legal avenues to appeal the decision and remains in communication with Swedish authorities to assess alternative pathways for this project
This development underscores the challenges Chinese investors face in navigating increasingly stringent national security and investment screening policies across Europe
PTL’s halted project highlights the growing tension between Europe’s desire to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains and the practical need for Chinese expertise and capacity in the battery materials sector
PTL remains committed to its overseas ambitions and is reportedly evaluating alternative investment destinations to support its global growth strategy
READ the latest Batteries News shaping the battery market
Plans for a SEK 13 billion large battery anode factory in Timrå, north of Sundsvall, have been entirely cancelled, according to Dagens Industri., source
Korean Battery Material Companies Seeking Chinese Partnerships to Penetrate European Market As Chinese battery companies rapidly expand in the European market
Korean battery material firms are actively seeking..
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That win is Timra's third in a row against Brynas, who have now lost back-to-back matches following a 4-2 loss to Linkoping last time out
which ended a run of six consecutive victories
Brynas' lead at the top is still a healthy one, though it has been cut to 10 points following Frolunda's narrow 2-1 win over HV71
Oscar Fisker Molgaard put HV71 in front in the second period
but a Filip Cederqvist equaliser ensured the home side's lead lasted less than three minutes
the Gothenburg side took advantage of a powerplay and scored the winner through Arttu Ruotsalainen - his eighth goal of the season
That marked a fifth win in succession for the reigning champions
since defeat to Brynas at the end of January
Frolunda have also opened up a one-point gap between them and third-placed Lulea
who needed a shoot-out to beat Rogle at home
The visitors found themselves 3-0 down in the first period
only for debutant Lubos Horky to get them back into the game with two goals
Josh Dickinson levelled the match in the final minute of the third
only for Anton Levtchi to score the decisive goal in the shoot-out and deny Rogle a remarkable win
Still reeling from the disappointment of losing the Champions Hockey League final earlier this week
Farjestad BK were defeated again on Thursday night
Despite battling from two goals down to level the scores
Farjestad had no answer after the midpoint of the match
It's now five SHL defeats in succession for the team from Karlstad
Elsewhere, Vaxjo Lakers and Leksands IF kept pace with the top six - the Lakers doing so in fine style with a 6-2 win over Malmo Redhawks, while Leksands won 3-2 at home to Modo Hockey
In the match between 11th-placed Orebro HK and 12th-placed Linkoping HK
the former improved their postseason ambitions with a 2-1 victory on home ice
listen up,” Olli Jokinen instructed his players before delivering a between-periods speech for the ages
The longtime-NHLer-turned-coach of Timrå IK was “boiling over.” Timrå had fallen behind the struggling Växjö Lakers 2-0 in a low-energy game last week
and Jokinen felt his team was simply going through the motions
And so in a four-and-a-half minute speech that would almost immediately go viral across the hockey world
Jokinen unleashed 40 F-bombs in quick succession while prodding his players to take a step toward being the kind of team they want to be
Timrå rallied to earn a point while losing in a shootout
and Jokinen generated millions of social media impressions thanks to the embedded team camera that captured him painting the dressing room blue
“Obviously it got way too much attention,” Jokinen told The Athletic Wednesday
You can get that message across without cursing.”
🍿 Youtube imorgon kl. 12.00…#timraik pic.twitter.com/6jsTokqkqq
— Timrå IK (@timra_ik) January 8, 2025
that behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Swedish Hockey League team said a lot about what kind of coach Jokinen is: Raw
The fact that it took more than four months for one of his speeches to go viral is a testament to Jokinen only rarely leaning on that style of communication to get his message across
Timrå’s social media team has been capturing video in the dressing room on a daily basis and previously released dozens of clips with him addressing the team that didn’t generate any meaningful buzz
“You cannot be like that every single day,” Jokinen said
really upset with the way we were performing
“I’m not trying to be an old-school NHL coach
That approach is working tremendously well for the 46-year-old
whose career trajectory has him pointed toward a possible return to the NHL down the road
Consider that it was only four years ago Jokinen found himself working with teenagers at the South Florida Hockey Academy
When COVID-19 hit and the academy found itself without adequate ice time after having a contract terminated
Jokinen decided to try his hand at the professional game with no prior experience coaching men
That opened the door to take another step up the coaching ladder by jumping to Sweden last spring
The club was littered with players boasting NHL experience — Jonathan Dahlén
Filip Hållander — but was looking for a push over the hump after quick playoff exits in consecutive seasons
The roster has also been bolstered by 21-year-old forward Oliver Kapanen — the son of Kimmo Kapanen, Timrå’s GM — following his 12-game stint with the Montreal Canadiens in November
The true measure of progress will come in the playoffs
but it’s notable that Timrå reeled off three consecutive wins after Jokinen’s expletive-filled speech
It quickly became something everyone was joking about in the viral aftermath
“And that’s kind of what’s the message even on those clips that came out: ‘Are we just satisfied being in the middle of the pack?’ You know
they’ve been saying since Day 1 that they want to win and they are willing to do whatever it takes us to take that next step.”
Jokinen played under 15 different head coaches during his 18-year NHL career that included more than 1,200 games for 10 teams
The range of styles helped shape not only what he wants to do with his own group but also some things he tries to avoid
Among the NHL coaches who left a lasting impression
“They didn’t pretend to be anything that they’re not,” Jokinen said
He was thrilled to see Maurice lift the Stanley Cup in June with the Florida Panthers
an organization he spent seven seasons playing for
“There’s nothing bad to say about him and the way he runs the team
“Players absolutely love to play for a guy like him
Jokinen is trying to carve out a similar legacy with his own players
And while Jokinen’s primary focus is on trying to guide Timrå to a long-awaited championship
he’s hoping his coaching journey eventually brings him back to North America
“I understand that those spots over there are limited,” he said
“It’s not something I work toward every day
To help these individuals over here now and also help the club to build a culture — help the team to win the games
(Photo of Olli Jokinen during his playing career: Marianne Helm / Getty Images)
The team also revealed that it is recalling forward Lucas Condotta from its American Hockey League
Les Canadiens ont prêté l'attaquant Oliver Kapanen au Timrå IK dans la SHL et ont rappelé l'attaquant Lucas Condotta du Rocket de Laval
l'attaquant Jacob Perreault a été assigné au Rocket de Laval.The Canadiens have loaned forward Oliver Kapanen to Timrå IK in the SHL…
Kapanen has averaged 11:38 of ice with a plus/minus of -4
The 21-year-old had some notable expectations heading into his rookie season. The Canadiens took him in the second round, 64th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. He built a reputation as an exceptional scoring threat with Kalpa in Liiga in his native Finland. Kapanen signed a three-year, entry-level contract to come to Montreal this past June
things haven’t quite paid off right away for Kapanen
While he played around 12-13 minutes per game through his first 11 appearances
the Swedish-born center played less than eight minutes against Calgary
The decision to loan him back overseas is for the opportunity to consistently play big minutes and develop into the asset the Canadiens brass expect him to be
Timra (8-8) currently sits eighth in the SHL standings
has spent the first month of the season solely in the AHL
who has spent his entire career in the Montreal system
played just three games for the Habs last season
that coming in his NHL debut during the 2022-23 season
The Canadiens (4-7-2) are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division in points (10) and winning percentage (.385)
They are scheduled to face the New Jersey Devils in Newark on Thursday night
Pro Hockey Rumors
April 3, 2025 at 10:16 am CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment
The Panthers announced this morning that they’ve signed forward Anton Lundmark to a one-year
entry-level contract for the 2025-26 campaign
joins the Florida organization after spending the entirety of his professional career in his native Sweden
The right-shot winger has just one season of top-level experience under his belt
He’s worked his way up from the third-tier HockeyEttan through the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan en route to making his Swedish Hockey League debut last season with Timrå IK
Lundmark posted 5-4–9 in 49 games with a plus-two rating and
His contract with Timrå runs through 2025-26
but there’s evidently an NHL out-clause built in to allow him to sign with the Panthers
Florida could also opt to loan him back to Timrå partway through the season if he’s not a legitimate NHL option or isn’t receiving much of an opportunity on assignment to AHL Charlotte
192 lbs) and is regarded as an intelligent two-way forward
his lack of offensive production against top-flight European talent is a red flag for his ability to adjust to even a meaningful AHL role next season
He’s not much of a factor physically
Lundmark will report to the Panthers’ training camp in the fall and attempt to prove that wrong and make himself a call-up option
He’ll be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2026
Florida Panthers| Transactions Anton Lundmark
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Catching up with Oliver Kapanen after his third game in the SHL
It’s been three years and a couple of days
but we are standing just a few metres away from where my first interview with Oliver Kapanen was conducted in November
“Same place as last time,” he says with a quick smile
Timrå IK is really Kimmo Kapanen’s team
He was a fan favourite for a couple of seasons and Oliver grew up at the ice rink
Oliver had clearly stated that he wanted to play for Timrå during his career
While that was a big factor in going back to Europe
it seems that a lot of trust is being placed by Montreal in the hands of two former NHL players: Kimmo Kapanen (the GM) and Olli Jokinen (the coach)
“I guess it’s pretty big [playing for Timrå] and the Montreal guys trust Olli here and they know what to expect here
what’s going on here and which style of coaching I’m getting
and they truly trust that process here.” Jokinen’s own NHL experience carries some weight even in Montreal
and [Montreal] know that and they hope I get better.”
Martin St-Louis and Adam Nicholas didn’t send a list of homework with Kapanen
but rather a few things that he needs to get better at
those [NHL] players and getting better on that
Lots of battles with the puck and without the puck
That’s maybe the biggest thing to improve
“I got to play 12 games and now I know pretty much what’s going on out there and I got pretty good practice.”
Last season he played with Matyas Kantner and Juuso Mäenpää in KalPa
this year it’s Filip Hållander and Jonathan Dahlén in Timrå in what many describe as the top offensive line in SHL
They have NHL experience and they know they both want to get back there
so we practise hard and we push each other to get better
and that’s the thing with everyone: to work hard and get those things to happen.”
Kapanen describes the step up in competition from Liiga to the SHL
“This is a pretty good league and there’s a lot of skilful players and they make the good first passes
That’s maybe the biggest difference of what I’m seeing now after three games; make those passes and it’s hard to pick
but I’m getting used to it and I think today I played my best game so far and I’m really happy at the moment.”
When asked to send our readers and listeners a message
“It was a really nice experience out there
and I’m looking forward to playing there next season.”
Farjestad conceded three penalties in the first period, and each time the home side took advantage with powerplay goals courtesy of Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Par Lindholm and Max Lindholm
The second period was a better one for the visitors, although it took them until the final minute to break through, as Axel Bergkvist made it 3-1
But the Black & Yellows did not let it get to them
and they needed less than three minutes to restore the three-goal cushion through Oskar Vuollet
Though Joackim Nygard made it 4-2, once again ill-discipline cost the Karlstad club - Viktor Lodin received a game misconduct penalty for cross-checking, allowing Vuollet and Anton Heikkinen to capitalise
Skelleftea have the chance to seal their Quarter-Final place on Saturday at Löfbergs Arena in game five
The series between Timra and Frolunda is guaranteed to go to at least game six after the former secured a crucial 2-1 victory on home ice to level matters at two wins apiece
An overtime loss at the SCA Arena in game three meant Timra had to win or give the Gothenburg club the chance to wrap up the series at the Scandinavium in game five
The first period was scoreless and powerplay-free
but the match came to life six minutes into the second period when the home side were awarded a penalty shot
Magnus Paajarvi held his nerve to beat Tobias Normann and break the deadlock
Timra seemed to be edging to the tightest of victories, until midway through the final period - Paajarvi was the guilty man this time, penalised for holding, and Arttu Ruotsalainen found an equaliser for Frolunda on the powerplay
Another overtime period between these two looked to be on the cards until three minutes left when it was Timra's turn to have the man advantage - and take advantage - Emil Pettersson fired home what could be a pivotal goal in their season
Game five in Gothenburg is also set for Saturday
Follow the SHL Playoffs on Flashscore.
April 2, 2025 at 10:48 am CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment
The Canadiens have recalled forward Oliver Kapanen from his loan to Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League, the team announced
He’ll join the NHL roster and could be on hand for tomorrow’s game against the Bruins
Their active roster will stand at 23 players with the move
Kapanen, 21, has had an unusual season. The 2021 second-round pick had an exceptional training camp and cracked Montreal’s opening night roster – much to the surprise of Timrå, who planned on him being a core piece of their group this year when they signed him to a two-year contract last summer
Kapanen’s run in the NHL ended in early November
and since he’s spent fewer than 60 days on the NHL roster and wasn’t a first-round pick
he had to be offered back to Timrå instead of being sent to AHL Laval
Timrå took the opportunity to bring him back into the fold
Timrå dropped their playoff quarterfinal series to Frölunda HC last weekend
so Kapanen’s season overseas is over – making him free to rejoin the Habs
The 6’0″ center appeared in 12 of Montreal’s first 13 games before being returned to Sweden
recording a pair of assists and a minus-four rating
He managed 13 shots on goal and won 46% of his faceoffs while averaging 11:38 per game
He didn’t factor into Montreal’s penalty kill but did receive some power-play deployment
recording one of his helpers with the man advantage
Kapanen only controlled 41.7% of shot attempts and 39.0% of expected goals
letting the Habs know there’s room for improvement in his possession game
He was a core piece of Timrå’s fourth-ranked offense out of 14 SHL teams
placing fourth on the club with 15-20–35 in 36 games
He added two goals and an assist in their six-game loss to Frölunda
the latter will likely have more upward mobility in an NHL lineup
who’s back in Laval after an NHL call-up earlier this year
has one assist and a minus-three rating through his first 13 NHL games
Montreal Canadiens| SHL| Transactions Oliver Kapanen
but the passion remains with the Finnish legend
now the coach of Timra IK in the Swedish Hockey League
joined the club in the offseason after three seasons with Jukurit in the Finnish Liiga
Timra is 15-4-2-11 (wins-overtime wins-overtime losses-losses)
After suffering a shootout 3-2 shootout loss to Vaxjo on Tuesday
Timra’s social media page shared footage of Jokinen giving an impassioned speech to his players
The clip has been viewed on social media more than 440,000 times on X
Taken No. 3 overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Jokinen was one of the game’s most productive forwards in the mid 2000s, scoring 89 and 91 points with the Florida Panthers in 2005-06 and 2006-07
Frolunda went down 4-2 to Timra on home ice in the opener, but responded with four goals of their own tonight to run out 4-0 winners
Two penalties in quick succession for Timra allowed the home side to score from a 5-on-3 after eight minutes through Dominik Egli
and 1-0 was how it stayed until the end of the second period
it took just 15 seconds of the third period for the second goal to arrive and settle the home crowd's nerves in Gothenburg
Timra took out the goaltender in search of a late route back into the game, but when Frolunda won possession back, Isac Born wrapped up the win in the final two minutes
There was still time for Egli to complete his hat-trick with another empty-netter in the final seconds, as Frolunda celebrated levelling the series and a 16-save shutout for Lars Johansson
SCA Arena in Timra will host the next two matches on Tuesday and Thursday
Four goals was more than enough for Skelleftea, too, as they beat Farjestad 4-1 away
just two nights after a 6-2 loss on the same rink
All four goals for the away side arrived in the first 16:23 of the first period
beginning with Andreas Johnsson's deadlock-breaker after three minutes
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard doubled the advantage at 07:34, before Anton Heikkinen added number three less than 60 seconds of play later
with none of the goals scored on a powerplay
When Farjestad did have Henrik Bjorklund penalised for tripping, it only took Oscar Lindberg 11 seconds to make the man advantage count
Marian Studenic pulled one back midway through the third
Games three and four will be played in Skelleftea
After just 13 wins in 52 regular season matches and two Playout games, HV 71 have now won three in a row to lead Modo 3-2 in the series to stay in the SHL
They completed the turnaround with a 4-0 win after a dominant first period display
to secure the first away victory for either side in the series
Modo suffered a serious setback when Mans Carlsson received a game misconduct penalty for cross-checking in the sixth minute
Andre Petersson and Jamiro Reber took advantage on the following powerplay, before Oscar Fisker Molgaard shocked the home side further with the third goal in the 11th minute
The second period was scoreless, before the win was sealed with five minutes to play when William Nilsson found the empty net
Frederik Dichow made 19 saves for HV 71 in his shutout
The Jonkoping side are now one win away from SHL survival
which they can secure back at Husqvarna Garden on Tuesday
A conversation with the former NHLer about his new top-line centre
Asked about the Filip Hållander-Oliver Kapanen-Jonathan Dahlén line and how far it can take Timrå in the playoffs
coach Olli Jokinen didn’t temper his hopes
The confidence from the former NHLer was evident
He is here to win in what he knows can be a statement year
and a lot rests on the shoulders of arguably the SHL’s best line
especially now that Kapanen has returned from the Montreal Canadiens
“We were in kind of a position where we needed to get the answer from Montreal
Do we need to react in the transfer market and bring in somebody else?” While Jokinen had been very supportive of Kapanen’s trip to camp and stint in the NHL
especially a club with aspirations this season
“It has been 16 games that we played without our number-one centre
I was expecting that Oliver was going to stay and at least get an opportunity
I wasn’t sure he was going to stay that long over there.”
He points out the year of 2024 as especially important
“Starting [the 2023-24 season] with KalPa
and he really elevated his game from January
Kapanen’s return to Timrå has been a bit rough
“It’s a bit tough when you are coming from … it doesn’t matter if it is the best league [in the world]
if you play 10 minutes a night and then you need to play 18 to 20 minutes
after the game against Rögle] was the best game of this year
He’s been getting better and better and kind of getting up to the speed again and getting more comfortable playing with the puck
It’s really tough to play 10 minutes and get the puck dots and all that and it’s a little bit of a different style
but he’s a great young player who was going in the right direction
“This is a new level for him as well to play in
This is a really tough league and it’s going to make him even more ready
but he’s a huge help for our team and a good kid who wants to get better
the kind for the players who don’t get the ice time
He wants to get better and wants to improve himself.”
Jokinen compared this year’s Timrå team with his Jukerit team of 2022 which finished a surprising second in the standings
Both had lots of very good young guys that want to prove themselves and that are close to NHL level.”
In the press box there were quite a few scouts praising Kapanen
who had a great solo raid but finished by hitting the bar instead of the net
Most of them praising the centre as having the potential to be
Kapanen finished with a point as he won a defensive faceoff in the last minute of the game
The full interview with Jokinen will be released as a podcast on Monday along with the European Prospect Report
It was an easy decision for the Canadiens once players started to get healthy
as there weren't many roster positions available
Kapanen had a clause in his contract that required him to return to Sweden instead of being sent to the Laval Rocket
Montreal Canadiens fans were devastated when the front office sent Oliver Kapanen back to Timra IK in the SHL instead of keeping him in the NHL
Kapanen didn't have a terrible 12-game tenure with the Canadiens
but it wasn't productive enough with just two assists
The coaching staff did learn some things about Kapanen
mainly that he could be a productive center for the team under the right circumstances
One has to wonder if he could've stayed full-time with the team if they found a way to trade Christian Dvorak
knew there was a first-line spot on his roster for Kapanen if the Canadiens wanted to return him to Sweden
He was likely the most happy person in the hockey world when Kent Hughes decided to complete the transaction and immediately inserted Kapanen into his lineup
Kapanen has had a successful nine-game tenure with Timra IK
He averaged a little over half a point per game in his 2023-24 season with KalPa in Liiga
but Timra would be a slight step up in competition
Kapanen has shown no signs of being unable to play against stiffer competition
as he recorded three goals and five assists over his first nine games
He is currently playing in an international tournament for Finland against Switzerland
He has no points over the first three games but went into the international break with three goals over his final two games with Timra
Kapanen will likely play with Finland again at the World Championships
which will be more seasoning against the world's best competition
Will this be Kapanen's lone season in Sweden
It would make sense for the Canadiens to utilize him full-time starting in 2025-26
and Michael Pezzetta are on expiring UFA contracts
but the rest will likely depart to make room for Kapanen
it looks like it was the right decision to give Kapanen some time to hone his craft among professionals in Europe
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Oliver Kapanen will be ready to return to Montreal
Currently on pause as Timrå is not playing in the SHL’s actual round of the playoffs
Oliver Kapanen is preparing for the playoffs
has been highly beneficial for the forward
This is an analysis of his first professional season in Sweden after turning his back on the Liiga
This role has significantly helped Kapanen develop his offensive game. Observers have finally seen some offensive substance, something that was lacking for most of last season in Liiga. In the games observed for this scouting report, he scored three goals and hit the net with 14 of his 19 shots. The Habs’ prospect also posted an impressive 60% faceoff win rate. His final regular-season statistics can be found at the bottom of this article.
As a passer, his play is effective but not flashy. He anticipates the game well and reads his teammates’ movements, allowing him to distribute the puck efficiently. However, he is not a finesse player who attempts highlight-reel dekes. His puck-handling is more about receiving passes cleanly and quickly transitioning into a shooting motion.
Physically, Kapanen is not particularly dominant. He does not stand out for his physical play and relies more on his stick to recover the puck in board battles. When he does not have positional advantage, he tends to lose battles against more physical opponents. Despite this, he demonstrates a solid understanding of the game and effective defensive positioning. He is highly reliable in closing out games when his team is protecting a lead.
Kapanen attacks the net intelligently and does not hesitate to chase rebounds. He understands his role well and knows when to hold back as the third man high to ensure defensive coverage. He does not force offensive plays and prefers to capitalize on opportunities as they arise. While this approach is effective, it raises questions about his offensive ceiling. However, he has been given a more offensive role with Timrå this season and has responded well to the expectations.
His long-term potential is projected as that of a middle-six NHL forward. His main strengths are his hockey IQ, his ability to contribute in all zones, and his effectiveness in the faceoff circle. However, his lack of physical impact and limited involvement in board battles could hinder his development.
Oliver Kapanen is a fast and intelligent player with strong game vision. He excels at reading offensive and defensive situations, but his limited physical play could be a barrier to his success in North America. Nonetheless, he remains a promising prospect who could play an important depth role for the Montreal Canadiens in the medium term. He has a highly professional playing style but will need to refine his game to adapt to North American hockey.
so no one should've been caught off guard when the Montreal Canadiens announced on Wednesday that they were loaning Oliver Kapanen back to Timra IK in the Swedish Hockey League
Olli Jokinen clarified that a spot on the top line in Timra was waiting for him if the Canadiens made that decision
and the team felt it was the right place for Kapanen
Everyone knew there was a possibility it could happen
Les Canadiens ont prêté l'attaquant Oliver Kapanen au Timrå IK dans la SHL et ont rappelé l'attaquant Lucas Condotta du Rocket de Laval
l'attaquant Jacob Perreault a été assigné au Rocket de Laval.The Canadiens have loaned forward Oliver Kapanen to Timrå IK in the SHL…
Don't let the success of Kapanen's preseason cloud the fact that it hasn't gone as smoothly during the regular season
He had been regularly playing bottom-six minutes and was a valuable player for the team
but only contributed two assists in 14 games
considering the struggle on defense this season
The Canadiens may have found a reason to keep Kapanen in the fold if they were a contending team this season
He brought value to the bottom six and could play up the lineup if the injury bug hit
He also afforded some insurance if things went south for any players in the top six
the loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night might've been the final nail in the coffin
Kapanen will be a player who the Canadiens rely on in the coming years. Montreal will eventually get out of the rebuild and start contending, and Kapanen will play a massive role in that. With the current roster struggling to win and falling to a terrible place in the league's hierarchy
why keep Kapanen around to go through the troubles
Timra is in the middle of the pack in the SHL
Kapanen should help the team overcome its .500 record
The Canadiens want Kapanen to learn what it's like to play with a winning team
and he certainly will not know that playing with this team in 2024-25
but with the current situation in Montreal
this is Kent Hughes's correct decision for the future of Oliver Kapanen's career
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Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands
but his work is also featured on ClutchPoints
Contact Nate on X under the username @NateDuffettHcky to talk about the NHL
Kapanen will be a player who the Canadiens rely on in the coming years. Montreal will eventually get out of the rebuild and start contending, and Kapanen will play a massive role in that. With the current roster struggling to win and falling to a terrible place in the league's hierarchy, why keep Kapanen around to go through the troubles?
Timra is in the middle of the pack in the SHL. Kapanen should help the team overcome its .500 record. The Canadiens want Kapanen to learn what it's like to play with a winning team, and he certainly will not know that playing with this team in 2024-25. The fans may not like it, but with the current situation in Montreal, this is Kent Hughes's correct decision for the future of Oliver Kapanen's career.
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That’s not to say he played poorly in 2023-24 for Kalpa (Liiga)
as he did manage to produce 14 points in 13 playoff games
but the SHL represents a significant uptick in quality of competition compared to Liiga
Kapanen did not just maintain his elevated scoring rate
he improved his production by leaps and bounds if we consider the strength of the league
Kapanen managed to score 15 goals and 20 assists
falling just one goal or assist short of establishing a point-per-game pace
Now that Timra has been eliminated from the playoffs
It’s important to remember the Habs loaned Kapanen to Timra to begin with
and his entry-level contract will not slide regardless of where he ends up playing
Kapanen can be assigned to the Laval Rocket
and he is eligible to play for the team in the Calder Cup playoffs
and then proceed to recall him from the AHL
it will count against their limited call-ups between now and the end of the year
But if the Canadiens immediately assign him to their NHL roster
despite the excitement surrounding Kapanen
there are a few factors worth considering before immediately placing him in the NHL
The first is that his impressive production rate was established while he was serving as a first-line centre for Timra IK
He was also given a healthy dose of ice time on the powerplay
Those are two situations that are unlikely to repeat if he plays for the Canadiens
It’s also worth noting his 12-game audition with the Canadiens earlier this season was far from encouraging when we consider the results
The Habs were outplayed and outchanced by a wide margin whenever Kapanen was on the ice
which means many will be willing to give him a longer grace period
but the idea that Kapanen can immediately slot into the second-line centre position in Montreal isn’t necessarily based on statistics
The good news is that Kapanen’s usage to start the season was rather erratic, and that particularly situation is unlikely to repeat
unless the Habs decide to play Kapanen with Emil Heineman and Christian Dvorak
We also have to consider Kapanen has improved during his SHL loan
making his early-season numbers far from reliable when projecting his potential NHL impact
I’m not entirely certain it would be fair to thrust Kapanen into a top-six role while the team desperately battles to qualify for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference
He’s not used to playing against NHL competition
and most of his opponents will be in mid-season form
There’s also the matter of learning and understanding the playbook
not to mention the importance of putting theory into practice once the puck drops
pushing Kapanen into the NHL will come with a very steep learning curve
and that may not be a reasonable approach when discussing the prospect’s development
ON TOPIC: Canadiens Playoff Race – The Eastern Conference Race Is Coming Down To The Wire
I’d argue his best destination would be Laval
where he could be given ample opportunities in situations that are conductive to thriving
Not only are the Laval Rocket the top team in the AHL
they’re getting ready for an important playoff run
with their eyes firmly set on securing a Calder Cup
In addition, when Kent Hughes was asked why the Canadiens did not pick up a little more talent in the AHL at the trade deadline, he suggested Kapanen would be the ‘big’ name heading to Laval as a reinforcement
This leads me to believe the Habs intend on loaning him to the Rocket
sending Oliver Kapanen to Laval would complicate things if the Canadiens do eventually recall him to the NHL
but I’d guard against the temptation of throwing him to the wolves in the NHL
All Montreal Canadiens and Oliver Kapanen NHL statistics via Natural Stat Trick.
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And while the stats during his time in the NHL don’t quite correlate to the perception from most fans, the decision to loan him to Timra IK in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) has paid dividends for the Habs
After putting together a very respectable D+3 season that saw him score 14 goals and 20 assists in 51 games
not to mention a point-per-game pace in the Liiga playoffs
the 21-year-old Finn has maintained his momentum during his D+4 season
to the tune of 12 goals and 13 assists in 26 games
which is why his current production taking place in the SHL is much more impressive than his time in Finland (Liiga)
He’s serving as Timra IK’s top-line centre
connoting that he’s receiving the exact type of usage you want to see from a top prospect
including a healthy number of powerplay opportunities
It doesn’t hurt that his father is the team’s general manager
you’d be hard-pressed to argue this is a case of classic hockey nepotism
the question becomes what type of player will Kapanen be if he makes it to the the NHL
Kapanen is currently the 6th most productive Under-22 SHL player in the last 20 years
He’s scoring at the exact same pace as William Nylander did in 2014-15
it’s important to note that Nylander was just 18 years old at the time
A better comparison would probably be Linus Omark
a player who ended up playing parts of three seasons in the NHL
Omark had 55 points in 53 games as a 21-year-old
a higher scoring pace than we’ve seen from Kapanen
Carl Soderberg also had similar stats during his 21-year-old season in the SHL
producing 31 points in 30 games while playing for Malmö way back in 2006-07
Soderberg ended up playing almost 600 games in the NHL
Kapanen clearly has what it takes to make it to the NHL
and seeing as the Canadiens are hungry to add young
there’s clearly a future for him in Montreal
but we should probably temper our expectations a little
Kapanen was a late second-round pick (64th overall in 2021)
which means if he even makes it to the NHL in a permanent capacity
His scoring pace in the SHL suggests that his potential lines up with third-line production in the NHL
with a slight chance it can elevate to second-line production
but we also have to be mindful of the type of goals he’s scoring
Just as Lane Hutson’s goals in the NCAA were never going to translate perfectly to the NHL due to the quality of goaltenders in the college ranks
I’m not convinced Kapanen would be able to maintain his goal-scoring in the NHL
at least not to the point that he’s doing it in Sweden
either a breakaway or a great scoring chance on the powerplay
and that won’t immediately be the case in the NHL
where he will have to work his way up the ladder before being considered for powerplay usage
a health number of his goals are of the ‘garbage’ variety
in that he makes his way to the net and capitalizes on a great pass or a second-chance opportunity
I don’t label those as garbage goals
and a penchant for taking abuse from opposing defenders
it’s fun to see players beat goals with a clean shot off the rush
but most players don’t necessarily have that ability
making rebound goals their best opportunity to shine
if Kapanen can continue to drive to the net once he’s in the NHL
there’s a chance he will quickly end up becoming a favourite of head coach Martin St-Louis
It’s unlikely to lead to top-six usage
that’s par for the course when we consider when Kapanen was drafted
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After Tuesday night’s loss to the Calgary Flames
where he will play for Timrå in the Swedish Hockey League
they recalled forward Lucas Condotta from the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket
Kapanen had two assists in 12 games for the Canadiens
He will now get to play top minutes in Sweden and return to North America next season
Condotta was recalled once this season with Josh Anderson’s status up in the air
and Condotta returned to Laval without playing a game
In four career NHL games over the last two seasons
The captain of the Rocket has four assists in nine AHL games this season
Montreal heads on the road now for four games in New Jersey
they are quickly getting short on forwards
Jared Davidson and Filip Mešár are already out with Davidson week-to-week
They have already recalled Alex Beaucage for the three games last week
Their next games are Friday and Saturday in Belleville
They also recalled Jacob Perreault from the Trois-Rivières Lions to get back to 12 forwards
the team proceeded to recall forward Lucas Condotta to the NHL
while forward Jacob Perreault will join the Laval Rocket (AHL)
While there’s no doubt Kapanen has shown flashes of brilliance during his brief time in the NHL
his use on the fourth line was far from ideal from a prospect development standpoint
Skilled players tend to flounder in that situation
and seeing as Kapanen’s expected goal share (xGF%) is the among the lowest in the NHL (29.6 percent)
we can safely say he’ll be better off earning prime minutes in the SHL that also include powerplay usage
The 21-year-old will burn a year of his contract regardless of where he plays this season
which means his entry-level contract has indeed kicked in
It should also be noted his father is the general manager for Timra IK
which essentially ensures Kapanen will be used in a situation that’s conducive to producing
playing on their top line should lead to a little more stability when it comes to building chemistry with linemates
as opposed to the rotating cast of players that comes with playing on the fourth line
Joshua Roy is far and away the team’s best prospect in Laval
as evidenced by his 50+ goal pace this season
but the fact that the Canadiens opted to promote Condotta rather than Roy could end up being the right decision
There’s no reason to disrupt Roy’s season and Laval’s chemistry if the Canadiens cannot find top-six minutes for the well-rounded prospect
If the only available assignment involves sporadic use on the fourth line
you could argue the Canadiens could easily find important minutes for Roy
it does not seem like the Habs are ready to assign him to the first or second line
MUST READ: Canadiens Prospect Joshua Roy Making A Case For A Promotion
Roy has scored seven goals and three assists in nine games
and is a significant factor in the Rocket’s fantastic start
the Laval Rocket are currently among the best teams in the AHL
a nice change of pace for the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate
which has failed to meet expectations in the last few seasons
Joshua Roy nets his second professional hat trick in a 6-3 @RocketLaval victory🚀🧢 pic.twitter.com/yS5AfgSOMe
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) November 2, 2024
Habs Daily: Canadiens Roster Changes, Roy In The AHL, Demidov
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giving fans hope that he would soon show that in North America
The fans shouldn't worry about Kapanen's absence
He isn't at Rookie Camp because the Canadiens asked him to skip it to focus on the main training camp
It's important not to look too much into it
but this gives a lot of reason to believe the Canadiens think he could make the roster this season
It would be a quick turnaround from where we stood on Kapanen before the World Championship
but it shouldn't be surprising for anyone who watched him at that tournament
If you need anyone else to confirm this, just listen to Florida Panthers legend Olli Jokinen, who shared the same sentiment in a recent interview with Marco D'Amico and Responsible Gambling
Jokinen is also his current head coach with Timra and plans to use him as a first-line center with powerplay and penalty kill time
Kapanen coming to Montreal would be a massive loss for Jokinen and his team
but the former NHL All-Star doesn't plan to block Kapanen's path if the Canadiens want him
And for those that don't think Kapanen has a shot at a roster spot.I know it's not a high probability at the moment
but the Canadiens saw fit to have Kapanen skip rookie camp to prepare for the main camp.Emil Heineman was made to attend rookie camp in the same situation
A clause in Kapanen's contract says that he can't go to North America unless it is for a roster spot in Montreal
The Canadiens can't persuade him to stay to play in Laval
Kapanen will head back to finish the season in Timra
The Canadiens will need to make room for Kapanen if he does steal a roster spot
Jake Evans or Christian Dvorak are the obvious choices to trade
but I wouldn't be too hasty in trading Evans
The Canadiens might find a team willing to take on Dvorak's contract
which would also help Montreal's salary cap situation
The Canadiens had no worries about the salary cap until the acquisition of Patrik Laine put them up against it
Carey Price's contract going on LTIR will clear some of that room
but if the Canadiens become contenders this season
The acquisition of Laine also brings up an interesting question
Could Laine and Kapanen form a Finnish connection in the training camp that helps Kapanen with his move to North America
Laine commented in his introductory press conference about helping the younger prospects in the organization
Did we overlook a hint from Laine that he knows Kapanen has a chance to be in Montreal this season
If you need anyone else to confirm this, just listen to Florida Panthers legend Olli Jokinen, who shared the same sentiment in a recent interview with Marco D'Amico and Responsible Gambling
Don't forget about Oliver Kapanen when the Canadiens' main training camp opens on September 18
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The Montreal Canadiens loaned forward Oliver Kapanen to Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League on Tuesday
The move comes after the native of Timra, Sweden posted two assists in 12 games with the Canadiens this season, averaging 11:37 of time. The 21-year-old centre's second assist came in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss against the Calgary Flames
in which he recorded just 7:54 of ice time
The 2021 second-round pick spent the past two seasons in Finland's SM-Liiga
posting 14 goals and 34 points in 51 games last year with KalPa Kuopio.
The Canadiens have loaned forward Oliver Kapanen to Timrå IK in the SHL…
To fill Kapanen's roster spot, the Canadiens recalled forward Lucas Condotta from the AHL's Laval Rocket
who has yet to play with the Canadiens this season
went without a point in three games with the team last season
He has four assists in nine AHL games this season
Montreal also assigned forward Jacob Perreault to the Rocket on Monday
The 22-year-old winger has spent the season to date with the ECHL's Trois-Rivieres Lions
The Laval Rocket may soon get themselves a ringer from Europe ahead of the AHL playoffs
Oliver Kapanen’s Timrå side lost the sixth game of their quarterfinal series against Frölunda today
ending the series 4-2 in Frölunda’s favour
Kapanen centred the first line for Timrå and was their best player in this game
as Frölunda’s fourth line smothered them
and the big push that they needed at the end of the game never came to fruition
#Habs Oliver Kapanen with the biggest chance yet, and he can't believe that Frölunda's goalie saves his shot. pic.twitter.com/n12qyX4rVK
Kapanen is now eligible to return to Canada and play for the Laval Rocket
a solid addition for a team that looks poised for a deep playoff run
The Rocket has already qualified for the playoffs
which could make Kapanen’s transition into the team a bit easier
and perhaps provide him with a chance for some recovery following a strong SHL season
Kapanen was held to three points in six games in the playoffs
his SHL season should be considered a success
20A) points in 36 games during his time with Timrå
We're so excited to announce we'll be facing off against @PWHL_Montreal at the @CdnTireCtr on December 6!📰 https://t.co/ZuTSXqvWlA pic.twitter.com/2FVi11EhUw
— Ottawa Charge (@PWHL_Ottawa) November 6, 2024
Canadian Tire Centre will be the third Canadian NHL venue to host a PWHL game, as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Scotiabank Arena hosted a game between PWHL Toronto and PWHL Montreal on Feb. 16, with the two teams then playing April 20 at the Bell Centre, home of the Montreal Canadiens.
“We are excited for the opportunity to bring our game to the Canadian Tire Centre for the first time,” Ottawa Charge General Manager Mike Hirshfeld said. “This game is coming on early in our season, so we’re hoping to fill the place, as we’re going to need their energy when we face our closest rivals.”
Charge captain Brianne Jenner said she is thrilled at the prospect of playing in the Senators’ building.
“I’ve played in that arena many times, including in a World Championship setting. Our fans have earned that opportunity with how much they showed up last year,” Jenner said. “So, if we can fill that arena with really loud fans, I think it’s going to be such a fun environment.”
The Charge hope the season Nov. 30 in Montreal against the Victorie, then head back to the nation’s capital to take on the Toronto Sceptres Dec. 3.
Last season, Ottawa played a neutral-site game against PWHL Boston, now the Boston Fleet, at Little Ceasars Arena in Detroit, Mich., on March 16. More than 13,700 fans tuned in to see Boston defeat Ottawa 2-1 in a shootout.
Ottawa’s largest crowd for a game in 2024 was a 2-0 loss to Montreal on April 27, when 8,452 fans were at TD Place.
The Penguins' prospect pool took a significant hit on Friday
The Swedish Hockey League club Timra IK announced on Friday that forward Filip Hallander signed a five-year contract that runs through the 2027-28 season
was in the final year of his entry-level contract with the Penguins and was set to become a restricted free agent this summer
Qualifying offers to restricted free agents have not been extended yet
The Penguins still could make Hallander a qualifying offer and retain his North American rights until he turns 27
but given the length of Hallander's contract in Sweden
The deal between Hallander and Timra had been in place for at least a month
while Hallander was still playing for Wilkes-Barre
It was not a result of anything having to do with the Penguins' front office changes that happened after the season ended
Family was a factor in Hallander wanting to return home -- he and his wife Alva have a son named Colin who will be two years old early this fall
and he came up through the club's youth program
He began playing for the main Timra team in 2016-17 when the team was part of the second-tier Swedish league
He was part of the 2017-18 Timra team that earned a promotion to the SHL in the Allsvenskan's qualifying tournament
and he made his SHL debut with Timra the following season
Timra was relegated back to the Allsvenskan after losing in the 2019 relegation tournament
and Hallander left to play two years for the SHL team Lulea before moving to North America in 2021.
"It's super fun to be back," Hallander said in a Swedish release from Timra
"Coming back here has always been in the back of my mind since my last game
the loss against Oskarshamn (in the relegation tournament)
I've always thought that I don't want to end that way
Hallander was the Penguins' second-round pick in 2018
In 2020 he was traded to the Maple Leafs as part of the deal to acquire Kasperi Kapanen
the Penguins traded Jared McCann to Toronto ahead of the Seattle expansion draft
getting Hallander and a seventh-round pick in return
Hallander made the move to North America after the Penguins re-acquired him from Toronto
and he made his AHL debut with Wilkes-Barre
His 14 goals in 61 games ranked fourth on the team that season
He played one game in the NHL in his rookie season
This season Hallander ranked fourth in scoring for Wilkes-Barre with 11 goals and 22 assists in 43 games, missing significant time for two separate injuries in the second half of the season
He was recalled for two NHL games and was scoreless
the entire Penguins 2018 draft class is now out of the organization
and Hallander's three NHL games were all the Penguins got from any of them
The other three players the Penguins selected that year were defenseman Calen Addison (second round
traded to Minnesota in Jason Zucker trade)
not re-signed in 2022) and forward Liam Gorman (sixth round
traded for sixth-round pick used to draft Nolan Collins in 2022)
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That’s what Claes Elefalk, Dahlen’s agent, told San Jose Hockey today, in response to rumors that the ex-San Jose Sharks winger’s hometown club had offered, or was preparing to offer
but it’s a premature rumor,” Elefalk texted SJHN
“His priority is still the NHL and the Swiss league
it makes sense for Timra to want Dahlen back
The 24-year-old helped Timra get promoted into the SHL with 77 points in 45 games in 2020-21
taking home both the Allsvenskan regular season and playoff MVP awards
Dahlen was the media-voted Sharks Rookie of the Year last season
But the youngster couldn’t find consistency in the second half
He also dealt with multiple health issues throughout the year
including being placed in COVID protocol twice
finishing the campaign with 12 goals and 10 assists in 61 games
The San Jose Sharks chose not to qualify the RFA after the season
“There’s a certain type of profile of player
things that we’re looking for to make this team molded into the type of team that I would like it to be,” San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier shared
“He doesn’t really fit the profile right now.”
Grier on Parting With Wilson Jr., Sharks’ Free Agency Approach, Adding Weight (+)
Will Dahlen get a chance to make Grier eat his words this season
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Montreal Canadiens have signed Oliver Kapanen to a three year entry level deal
Kapanen was the 64th selection in the 2021 NHL draft and has played in the Finnish top league the last three seasons with KalPa from Kuopio
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract (2024-25 to 2026-27) with forward Oliver Kapanen.News release ↓ #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/BCiwo2gNoY
While Kapanen’s development has been slow
After finishing his National Service this past summer
he was slow to get into the hockey side of things
but after the new year he had been steadily improving to explode in the playoffs as KalPa’s leading scorer and first line centre
he has mostly been a forgotten prospect among Canadiens fans
whom Kapanen signed with prior to the World Championships this year
has congratulated Kapanen and clarified what will happen forward
“Kapanen will go over to Montreal for camp at the 18th of September
if he doesn’t make the roster he will return to Timrå according to the clause in the contract.”
Vi riktar ett stort grattis till Oliver Kapanen som har skrivit kontrakt med Montréal Canadiens. Oliver blir kvar i Timrå för träning och försäsong innan NHL-campen startar 18/9, tar han ingen plats i NHL finns en klausul att återvända till Timrå. #timraik pic.twitter.com/mcunHZ9D7q
Habs fans should not worry when it comes to this particular player
Kapanen was expected to sign with Timra IK
happens to be the current general manager of the team
Making the move from the Finnish league (Liiga) to the the SHL should lead to a higher level of competition for the 20-year-old centre
not to mention a higher quality of teammate
Varmt välkommen till Timrå IK – Oliver Kapanen
VM-aktuella tvåvägscentern Oliver Kapanen ansluter till Timrå IK från KalPa inför kommande säsong – Avtalet sträcker sig två år. Varmt välkommen till hela Medelpads förening Oliver!#timraikhttps://t.co/RCKJBqI9gZ
— Timrå IK (@timra_ik) May 9, 2024
Kapanen ends his Liiga career with 27 goals and 38 assists in 124 games for Kalpa
though it should be noted he improved his production significantly down the stretch of the final season
This season he managed to score 14 goals and 20 assists in 51 games
a slight uptick compared to the 27 points he secured in 55 games the previous year
though given that Kapanen was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft
an increase in production was to be expected
It was his play for Kalpa in the playoffs this season that really impressed
scoring seven goals and seven assists in 13 games
🚨 Loistava viimeistely – samalla syntyy tämän playoffs-kevään kuudes tehopiste
— KalPa (@KalPa_Hockey) March 21, 2024
While Kapanen is expected to return to Europe
the Canadiens can still sign him to an entry-level contract
According to Sportbladet, the Habs are expected to sign the defensively responsible forward this summer. Timra IK expects the Habs will then loan Kapanen to the team
which would essentially rule him out from playing in the AHL with the Laval Rocket
Kapanen is still free to attend the upcoming training camp
which means he will also have an opportunity to earn a roster spot in the NHL
It’s a similar situation to how Emil Heineman eventually made his way to North America, via Leksands IF (SHL).
All things considered, given his recent uptick in scoring, joining the SHL is the perfect fit for the budding prospect. That’s not to say he doesn’t have the talent needed to play in the AHL, but he will almost certainly receive more ice time with Timra IK than he would have gotten with the Laval Rocket.
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the SHL side announced that they had signed the former San Jose Sharks winger to a five-year contract
Dahlen skated for Timra IK from 2014-18 before he joined the Abbotsford Canucks for the 2018-19 campaign
The 24-year-old winger then returned to his hometown club for the next two seasons before coming to San Jose
Dahlen notched 12 goals and 10 assists in 61 games in his rookie NHL campaign
But that wasn’t enough to get new Sharks GM Mike Grier to qualify his contract
told San Jose Hockey Now that it was his client’s preference to play in either the NHL or Switzerland
AGENT: Dahlen Prioritizing Signing in NHL or Switzerland Over Timra
I guess Dahlen couldn’t find a satisfactory offer in North America or Switzerland
We’ll see if Dahlen completes his Timra deal
It will certainly have an out clause for an NHL team
Rasmus Kagstrom of Hockeysverige reminded SJHN that Marcus Sörensen signed a four-year deal with Djurgården last off-season
but left for National League side Fribourg in February
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Baby Shark Dell's first time on the ice ☺️ 🦈
(🎥: IG/nicolettedell_, @ADell32) pic.twitter.com/ldXu8yZvlZ
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 1, 2022
State of the San Jose Sharks’ goaltending. (The Athletic)
Yup.. that's me. https://t.co/ga6xgg50GS
— Jon Gustafson (@SHARKSICEGM) August 30, 2022
San Jose Barracuda announce Amelia Schimmel as team’s new PA Announcer
— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) August 31, 2022
Tage Thompson agrees to a seven-year contract extension with the Buffalo Sabres. (Buffalo News)
ESPN’s Leah Hextall talks about her “very difficult” first NHL season and the need for change in hockey. (The Athletic)
Dmitry Kulikov traded to Anaheim Ducks. (Star Tribune)
Adin Hill is excited to share the Vegas Golden Knights net with his former middle school classmate Logan Thompson
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Ex-Calgary Flames journeyman defenseman Chris Butler is behind the legendary @boringmonahan account
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The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Mike Sullivan to a three-year extension
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The story behind Washington Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin’s iconic yellow laces and tinted visor
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Scott Laughton says the Philadelphia Flyers need a demanding coach like John Tortorella
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Could Keith Yandle, P.K. Subban be depth options for the Boston Bruins
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Subban to the Vancouver Canucks
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Räty’s Road to Redemption, All About Getting an Opportunity
What we know about Florida Panthers training camp so far
What we know about Florida Panthers training camp (as of now)
Mailbag: Realistic Expectations for Sharks
We sat down with Hållander and head coach Fredrik Andersson to discuss the 18-year-old’s successful start to 2018-19
The Penguins’ second round draft pick (No
58 overall) Filip Hållander has had an excellent start to the 2018-19 season
and it seems as if it’s come as a surprise to just about everyone — including Hållander himself
“(My successful start) has been very unexpected,” Hållander said in our recent interview
“I thought I was going to get a role on the fourth line and get maybe six or seven minutes per game
I think (Hållander) is overachieving,” Andersson said
but I think it has been a really good start for him this season
Through 12 games with the Timrå IK club in the SHL
Hållander has already collected seven points (two goals
so staying very productive at such a young age against Sweden’s top level of hockey has made for a great start
“I’m trying to use my speed a lot,” he said
“I want to win puck battles and set up my teammates for scoring chances.”
Read More: 2018 Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25: Flip Hallander - No. 12
When asked if Pittsburgh is in constant talks with him (i.e.
scouts taking the time to give him pointers from afar
Hållander mentioned that the organization rarely has any influence in his game-to-game performances; they maybe catch up once every few months
Hållander said they’ve only has three discussions since his signing
That comes as no surprise with him playing out in Sweden
he did mention how much of an impact Penguins development camp had on him during the summer and how it has boosted his skills for this 2018-19 season
especially after they signed him to a three-year
meeting the guys and the staff and seeing the organization
There were a few guys who are playing in the AHL that stuck out to me
but it’s hard to compare them (to the skill of the SHL) because it’s a different game over there.”
The excitement surrounding this kid was already high after the signing
it’s hard not to raise the bar for him going forward
It’ll be interesting to see if Hållander take his top-six placement as a trial-based interview and continues to regularly find the score sheet on Timrå IK’s first line
Hållander is also in-line to compete with Sweden’s Under-20 team at the World Junior Championships in a couple of months
The Canucks’ other Swedish prospect is doing his best to show that you shouldn’t sleep on him
When Vancouver acquired Jonathan Dahlen from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alex Burrows the move was praised
as they capitalized on the inflated trade deadline market prices and enhanced their future by adding a recent second-round pick
as Burrows’ game has declined with the Senators and Dahlen continues to position himself as a promising prospect for the Canucks
Although Dahlen had a slow start to the season
he has been playing like a man on a mission this week
With Timra IK qualifying for the best-of-five Allsvenskan Finals against Leksands
the Canucks prospect put his team on his back and led them to a 3-0 sweep
punching their ticket to the promotion round against Karlskrona HK
Dahlen had four goals and three assists and was all over the place
relentless on the forecheck and creating offensive opportunities for himself and others
Dahlen doesn’t lack top end speed — when given a lane he can beat other players in a foot race
which has been evident recently as he has been able to beat defenders to loose pucks or go wide and then slowly cut in to get a lane — the problem is in his ability to use his edges and be shifty with the puck
can get going when he has a straight line and is able to use his stop and starts effectively
That abrupt stop was evident in one of the goals he scored this past week:
His skating won’t hold him back at the next level but is something that can be improved
If he can work on his edge work and add some more agility to his game
then his work ethic and tenacity will help him be more successful
His straight-line speed helps immensely on the forecheck
which in turn allows his linemates to be open in prime locations
An example of this is on Johannes Kinnvall’s goal in the first game of the promotion round against Leksands:
In this circumstance, Dahlen isn’t the first on the puck in the corner but yells for Erik Karlsson (the non-Senator one) to put it further into the corner and heads there
Dahlen takes a quick glance to see Kinnvall open in front and then puts it on his tape
Plays like this are quite common for the Canucks prospect and illustrate his awareness
the 5-foot-11 forward usually parks himself in front or rolls off to the side to get rebounds or provide a passing option
He isn’t a strong net-front presence but seems to get his stick on rebounds
quickly whacking away and making it hard for the goaltender to cover it
Dahlen doesn’t possess a particularly strong shot but instead tries to be deceptive
or little pulls to adjust the angles quickly make up for the lack of strength on his wrist shot
What I’ve noticed is that he is smart at his placement on the ice in the defensive zone and is constantly adjusting to ensure his man is covered
He’s rarely out of position and constantly adjusting to support his teammates
Dahlen finished the 2017-18 season tied for second in Allsvenskan scoring
Molin did register seven more points than Dahlen but played in eight more games due to the Canucks prospect joining Timra later in the season
Here are some of the categories where Dahlen thrived:
With the majority of the other players having played 52 games compared to Dahlen’s 44
it’s impressive to see how productive he was despite missing those games to start the year
He finished the season with the 12th highest time on ice per game (among forwards with 15 games played)
At first glance, a point-per-game pace isn’t outstanding given Dahlen’s situation. But, for context, he was recovering from mono for the first part of the season and teammates Filip Hallander and Jacob Olofsson missed large parts of the season while they attended various international camps or tournaments
which makes Dahlen’s scoring output slightly more understandable
We’ve used pGPS in the past to look at how players compare to their statistical cohorts to get an idea of what to expect. Dahlen didn’t have any comparable players, and that is due to a few factors. Generally, there aren’t many successful draft-plus-two players in the Allsvenskan. They have either moved onto the SHL, AHL, or NHL after being drafted from the Swedish second tier league
He was expected to go to the AHL and use the first year of his entry-level contract to work on his game on the smaller rink and push himself into consideration for an injury call-up
But he was diagnosed with mono at Young Stars
played some pre-season games for the Comets and then was loaned back to Sweden to get a chance to play big minutes
There was an option to go to the SHL or return to the AHL
but the Canucks prospect decided to stay with Timra because he wanted to help lead them back to the SHL
It is admirable that Dahlen wanted to help the program where he’s played since he was a child
Since Dahlen is on loan to Timra from the Canucks and burning the first year of his entry-level deal
he is eligible to play for Utica in the AHL playoffs and could play an NHL game
But with Timra making the promotion round against Karlskrona
it almost certainly kills any chance of seeing Dahlen with the Canucks this year
The Canucks play their final regular season game on April 7
then rushing Dahlen over to squeeze in an NHL game seems like a fruitless effort
I do expect the organization to assign Dahlen to Utica to help them in their quest for a playoff spot and then in the actual dance
The Comets should get an influx of talent with Nikolay Goldobin, Tyler Motte
Dahlen and possibly Adam Gaudette (as long as he doesn’t appear in an NHL game) joining them to close out the season
It would be a great opportunity for Dahlen to get some AHL game action before the off-season and understand what to expect at that level
I expect him to start next season in Utica and be given minutes to be an offensive leader
Dahlen profiles to be an NHL player because of his ability to play anywhere in the lineup
complement offensively skilled players and his instincts
He is unlikely to be a game breaker on his own in the NHL
but can be effective playing with someone like Pettersson
The Canucks got tremendous value in the acquisition of Dahlen and those types of moves should be exactly what continues to happen in this rebuild: trade the veterans who aren’t going to help this team when they get better for players who might have a chance to make an impact
but the idea of reuniting the dynamic duo of Pettersson and Dahlen in Canucks colours is a fun idea
(Top photo: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
HV 71 beat Linköping to claim its second regular season crown in three years
The Elitserien regular season came down to the final day of the season as HV 71 and Linköping battled for first place while Timrå and Luleå fought for the eighth and final playoff spot
HV 71 claimed its second regular-season title in three years while Timrå slipped into the final playoff
Linköping found itself in third place after losing to HV 71
2 seed while Timrå beat Luleå to grab the No
Timrå went into the last game of the season trailing Luleå in the standings by two points
Both teams needed a regulation win – the winner was in the playoffs while the loser was out
Timrå climbed into playoff contention by picking up a point in a 2-2 overtime tie with Djurgånden March 11 while Luleå lost a point against Rögle thanks to a 4-3 overtime defeat
Timrå and Luleå met March 15 in the last game of the season and it quickly turned into a battle between goalies Mattias Modig of Luleå and Anders Lindbäck of Timrå
The game was scoreless after two periods although Luleå outshot Timrå 26-15
The lopsided shot count didn’t help Luleå as Anton Lander fired home the only goal at 6:29 in the third period
stopping nine more shots in the final session
Linköping and HV 71 met in Linköping in a game to decide first place
LHC needed a regulation time victory to overcome a two-point deficit in the standings and claim its first-ever regular-season title
Linköping went into the match looking to bounce back from a March 11 loss to Brynäs while HV 71 wanted to improve on its 2-2 tie with Färjestad the same night
HV 71 looked like the fresher team as it went up 2-0 in the first period with goals from Johan Davidsson and Per Ledin
Tony Mårtensson's power play goal in the second cut HV's lead in half and gave LHC a glimmer of hope going in to the third
Magnus Johansson tied the game 2-2 with just under six minutes left to play as Linköping stormed Stefan Liv in the HV goal
had no intention of relinquishing its hold on the top spot and Andreas Falk put HV up again with less than four minutes to play
LHC wouldn't give up and with 1:34 left in regulation Mikael Håkonsson tied it at 3-3
Overtime guaranteed HV 71 the regular season title
Björn Melin scored at 3:13 of overtime to sew up HV's second title in three years
Djurgården took advantage of Linkoping’s home loss to grab second place as it beat Frölunda 5-2
Djurgården took an early 2-0 first-period lead on goals from Marcus Nilsson and Mattias Tjärqvist before Frölunda cut the lead in half before the break with a goal from Janne Niskala
Niskala picked up his second goal when he tied it at 2-2 just 1:27 in the second period
That was all FHC could as DIF scored three unanswered goals to race to the victory
Jacob Josefson and Michael Holmqvist scored in the second period while Andreas Enqqvist made 5-2 in the third
which climbed into eighth place briefly following the Olympic break
finished the season in ninth place thanks to a Rögle 4-2 victory
Modo played without an injured Peter Forsberg
kept Modo in the Elitserien while Rögle heads to the Kvalserien to try win its way back to the top flight
Brynäs defeat Skellefteå 5-4 in over time Saturday with Jonas Nordquist picking up the game-winner on the power play
Södertälje won its last game of the regular season defeating Färjestad 3-1 in Karlstad
SSK and Riku Helenius had a 3-0 shutout going into the third before Marcus Johansson would get the spoiler with just 1:46 left in the match
April 4, 2022 at 5:23 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 3 Comments
It’s finally time for Anton Lander to go home. The Swedish Olympic captain has signed a three-year contract with Timra IK of the SHL
one that likely ends any chance of him returning to the NHL given his age
has had an incredibly varied and interesting career in professional hockey
debuting as a teenager in 2007-08 with Timra
Selected 40th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2009
he came to the NHL in 2011 and almost immediately stepped into a regular role
setting a career-high of 20 points in just 38 games during the 2014-15 campaign
His contributions to that organization were felt mostly at the AHL level though
where he wore the “C” for two seasons with the Oklahoma City Barons and an “A” in his final year with the Bakersfield Condors
Scoring at nearly a point-per-game pace in the AHL
it was easy to expect success once he decided to go overseas in 2017
In his first season in the KHL he won the Gagarin Cup with Ak Bars Kazan
and represented Sweden at the 2018 Olympics
Three more successful years in Russia followed
before Lander joined EV Zug in Switzerland for the 2021-22 campaign
He had the honor of wearing that captain’s “C” again at this year’s Games
though Sweden was unable to medal once again
he returns to the Swedish club that developed him
Lander will be 33 and eight seasons removed from hockey in North America
Olympics| SHL Anton Lander
@DarkSide830 – That would be his brother
whose hockey career was cut short when he finally flew off the handle one too many times after being the target of yet another “To the Moon
I wish I could downvote this attempted joke
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The labor market unit of Timrå county has simplified everyday life for its case managers
while also enabling county citizens to be more involved in their own health
The labor market unit of Timrå Municipality had identified a need to streamline their case processing
while also being able to safely communicate with co-workers and county citizens
They wanted to update its current system to a more user-friendly one
while encouraging the participation of its county citizens
Lifecare is an efficient and simple tool that cuts down on processing for case managers
giving them more valuable time to spend with people
By implementing it in the labor market unit
Timrå county now has a practical solution with a modern layout and efficient functionality
Lifecare enables co-workers to not only be flexible
The system is also compatible with previous versions
allowing for a seamless and gradual transition
Another great advantage is that co-workers can now safely communicate with each other
as well as with citizens in the same digital environment
Timrå Municupality is located on the Swedish east coast between Härnösand and Sundsvall
the town population is around 18,000 but is expected to grow
The vision for 2025 is “Timrå - a strong municipality in a growing region!”
a select number of focus areas have been identified
for example “service professionals” and “motivated co workers”
efficiency and productivity is increased while also enabling self-services
it’s possible to make staff available elsewhere
like working towards better service and more in-person meetings with people
Thanks to different functions enabling safe and smooth communications
it’s easy to maintain a dialogue with both co-workers and citizens
Social care creates value - adding citizen services
Elderly and home care
Family care
Creating purposeful technology that reinvents the world for good
Join us for a 12-hour food drive Friday, 6am to 6pm, in Redding or Chico. Help stuff a RABA or B-Line bus at Les Schwab with food donations!
LIVE UPDATES3 arrested in Miranda with stolen property
— Three people were jailed after officials say they committed a slew of crimes involving guns
Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies conducting an investigation in the Miranda area said they observed three suspicious people with firearms standing in the driveway of a home on the 4200 block of Salmon Creek Road
later identified by officials as Dale Dodge Baldridge
Baldridge was found to have an active felony warrant for his arrest
Benjamin and Cornelius were found to be on formal felony probation
deputies said they found heroin and various prescription medications
When they searched the vehicle associated with the three subjects
deputies reported finding three stolen firearms
a stolen credit card and other stolen property
Deputies contacted the victim of the stolen credit card and learned that the victim’s keys had been stolen from her place of work earlier in the day
The victim was able to confirm that the guns and other property belonged to her and had been stolen from her car and home
Baldridge was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of stolen property
felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance while armed
in addition to a felony warrant for Post Release Community Supervision revocation
Benjamin was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of stolen property
violation of probation and violation of Post Release Community Supervision
Cornelius was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of stolen property
felon in possession of a firearm and violation of probation