Oliver Kapanen has more than a temporary role to play for the Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens forward Oliver Kapanen has been elevated to first-line center following a left hand injury to captain Nick Suzuki, who will miss two to four weeks. Massimo Baruffa of A Winning Habit argues that Suzuki's absence provides Kapanen with a crucial opportunity to prove he can serve as Montreal's long-term answer at second-line center, beyond merely keeping the team afloat in the short term.

After returning from his own lower-body injury to fourth-line duty, Kapanen has gone scoreless through four games this season. Baruffa notes that while Kapanen lacks flashy offensive skills, his defensive reliability and strong hockey IQ can allow Montreal to evaluate his fit among the top six amid ongoing trade speculation regarding Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin.