According to various reports, including TVA Sports, Kent Hughes, the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, was observed with a notable guest at the Bell Center.
During the Canadiens’ latest practice, Hughes was spotted in the stands alongside Kimmo Kapanen, the father of player Oliver Kapanen. Notably, Kimmo Kapanen is also the general manager of the Timra IK team in Sweden, which is expecting Oliver’s return to Europe. The question remains whether he will make that move, but their appearance together certainly sparked conversations.
It’s quite remarkable that Mr. Kapanen traveled across the Atlantic to watch his son, even as his team was also competing in Sweden. This shows a touching commitment.
Regarding Kimmo Kapanen’s visit, a TVA Sports source shared:
“It’s significant to mention him because Kimmo—don’t forget—holds the GM position with the Timra team in the Swedish league, which is where Oliver would go if sent back to Europe.”
It’s important to note that the Montreal Canadiens must keep Oliver Kapanen on their main roster until December 7; otherwise, he will need to return to Europe. After that date, he will be eligible to play for the Laval Rocket. Clearly, the communication between Timra and Montreal is strong.
Renaud Lavoie commented, “I believe this was a relatively important discussion. […] If there’s a decline in his performance in two or three weeks, we’ll already have a connection established with his father, who is present.”
This is a situation worth monitoring; however, if Kapanen continues to perform well, it seems unlikely that his father will see him back in Sweden anytime soon.
