The Next Patrice Bergeron to Join the Canadiens in the Coming Weeks? Former Habs Scout Makes a Major Statement on One of Marc Bergevin's Final Draft Picks

Several of them are already starting to make a name for themselves among observers and fans, while others are a bit more under the radar.

Among the most underrated prospects of the Canadiens is Oliver Kapanen, whose potential is very promising.

Kapanen, who was a second-round pick of the CH in 2021, 64th overall, is already playing his third season in the Liiga, Finland's top league, at the age of 20.

He is a professional at heart, coming from a family of hockey players. His cousin is Kasperi Kapanen, a forward for the St. Louis Blues.

After a quieter start to the season, the Finnish center is on fire offensively, with three goals and eight points in his last four starts. He has eight goals and 18 points in 29 games this season.

In a professional league where scoring is scarce, this is a very interesting performance, especially since Kapanen primarily plays on his team's third line.

In addition to proving that he can score points, what is relevant in his game is his ability to play on the full 200 feet of the rink. He is very good defensively and is already playing a "pro game" for his arrival in North America.

According to prospect expert and former amateur scout for the Canadiens, Grant McCagg, Kapanen is the most underrated young talent in the organization. He even adds that Kapanen has the potential to become a second-line center in the big league one day.

This is a very interesting prediction. Whether he becomes that second-line center or not, one thing seems certain, and that is the fact that he has everything it takes to become a very useful player with the Montreal Canadiens.

Since seasons in Europe typically end much earlier than those in the NHL or AHL, I'm greatly hoping he will follow in Emil Heineman's footsteps and make the jump this year to help the Laval Rocket in their quest for the playoffs.

We are eager to see him play in North America.