Hockey

Report: Loophole Could Allow Canadiens to Send Kapanen To Laval

Published: Oct 11, 2024, 8:51 AM
4 min read
Updated: Aug 18, 2025, 2:33 PM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Oliver Kapanen #91 of the Montreal Canadiens takes his "rookie lap" before his NHL debut against the Boston Bruins on October 10, 2024 in Boston (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)

Oliver Kapanen #91 of the Montreal Canadiens takes his "rookie lap" before his NHL debut against the Boston Bruins on October 10, 2024 in Boston (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)

 

The Montreal Canadiens will have a decision to make on Oliver Kapanen, but an IIHF Transfer Agreement loophole could allow them to send him to the Laval Rocket.

After a strong training camp, the 21-year-old was able to earn himself a roster spot and begin the year with the Canadiens.

The Canadiens had two options when it came to where Oliver Kapanen would be playing this season: Montreal or Timra.

Despite being in his best interest, sending Kapanen to the Laval Rocket to start the season was not an option. That’s because Kapanen has a valid contract in Sweden, the IIHF Transfer Agreement stipulates that, in the first year of his entry-level contract (ELC), Kapanen must first be offered back to his European club before being able to go to the AHL.

But, although the ruling is clear when it comes to opening night rosters, there is a section of the IIHF Transfer Agreement which could allow the Canadiens to send Kapanen down to the Laval Rocket down the line.

Transfer Agreement Loophole

How can this work?

For Kapanen to avoid being returned to Europe, he had to first secure a spot on the Canadiens’ roster out of training camp. Given the injuries to Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Patrik Laine, Kapanen was able to make the Canadiens out of camp.

However, more importantly, he must then remain on the Canadiens’ roster for 60 days. Then, and only then can they assign him to Laval without getting approval from Timra IK.

The rule is as follows, as per the IIHF agreement with the NHL.

“Any player who would otherwise be subject to return to his IIHF team, but who is retained by his NHL team because he is able to earn a roster position on his NHL team by the first day of the NHL regular season (or because he is injured as of the first day of the NHL regular season, may not be assigned to a minor league team before such player has attained a minimum of 60 days on his NHL team’s active roster during the regular season without first being offered to his previous IIHF team for the balance of the IIHF season.”

The key is for Kapanen to stay on the Canadiens' roster for 60 consecutive days before being reassigned to Laval without approval from his previous team.

According to IIHF and NHL regulations, if a player makes the NHL roster, they cannot be sent to the minors before 60 days have passed on the active roster, unless they’re first offered back to their previous European team.

Time on injured reserve doesn’t count towards the 60 days, so remaining healthy will be a huge part of it, so the Canadiens can evaluate Kapanen in NHL games.

Assessing The Right Development Path

It’s no secret that Kapanen would get top minutes if returned to Sweden, as Timra head coach Olli Jokinen has confirmed in a previous interview with RG.

The other thing to keep an eye out for is that Patrik Laine is also set to return within the next 60-80 days and that could be the tipping point in deciding Kapanen’s fate for the season.

Laine’s return, barring a healthy roster, could force the Canadiens to place someone on waivers or make the easier decision of sending Kapanen to Laval or Timra.

Regardless of what happens, it’s important to note that his entry-level contract has already kicked in, so whether he plays in Montreal, Laval, or Timra, his year is burned. Should he struggle during this evaluation, they could assign him to Timra before the 60-day period.

The Canadiens see an interesting piece for the future in Kapanen, and they’ll make the best decision for his development, as next season will be his true test in the NHL.

Senior News Editor
Marco D’Amico is an accredited hockey reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens, with a strong focus on NHL prospects, the NHL Draft, and player development. His work has appeared on TSN, RDS, CBC, and more, and he’s interviewed top talents like Lane Hutson, Shane Wright, Ivan Demidov, Logan Cooley, and Nathan MacKinnon.
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