According to numerous sources, defenseman Jani Hakanpää was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs to a two-year contract for $1.5 million per season.
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun tweeted on July 2 that Hakanpää is suffering with a major knee ailment, which is why the Maple Leafs have not yet made the deal official.
“His knee was described to me as bone on bone. About this, I questioned the Leafs. They asserted that he was cleared by their doctors to be signed. Simmons stated, “We’ll discover out in the fall, or later, whether he can play again.
Steve Simmons
Steve Simmons \ @simmonssteve · Continue reading about Hakanpaa I was informed that his knee was bone-on-bone. About this, I questioned the Leafs. They asserted that he was cleared by their doctors to be signed. We’ll find out whether he can play again in the fall, or perhaps even later.
6:12 p.m. · July 2, 2024 38 Response
The season ended on March 16 due to a knee injury sustained by 32-year-old Hakanpää. However, as soon as free agency began on July 1st, Toronto moved quickly to sign Hakanpää to a two-year contract.
Several NHL Teams Believed Jani Hakanpää Would Never Return to the Field: Source
In his July 1 column, Simmons stated that he was taken aback by the deal since those close to the league informed him that they believed Hakanpää would never suit up for another NHL game.
Hakanpää, who also joined with Toronto on Canada Day, didn’t experience things that way. Hakanpaa would have played a really great role in the Leafs defense a year or two ago. At six feet seven, he is a massive man who is well-liked in the group, with that legendary hockey voice, and is an exceptional penalty taker. However, Simmons said, “one with a knee so bad that some think he may never play again, although the Leafs disagree.”
“Many people don’t think he will play, yet the Leafs signed him. It will surprise many who were present in previous seasons if he plays for the Leafs once more, if he plays at all, Simmons continued.
Hakanpää played in 64 games with the Dallas Stars in the previous campaign, scoring 12 points with two goals and ten assists.
GM of the Maple Leafs Discusses Signing Hakanpää
Although Hakanpää’s deal is still pending official approval, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving discussed the signing on July 1.
Treliving believed Hakanpää would support the group during the penalty kill.
Once more, Hakanpää is a penalty killer. When we thought back on the previous season, our penalty kill was one of the things we wanted to improve. In that regard, Jani excels greatly. Over the years, and particularly this past season, you saw that in Dallas,” Treliving remarked.
Jon Steitzer of Leafs Nation described the signing as a “low-risk” purchase.
On July 3, Steitzer said, “I don’t think the Hakanpää contract falls into the ‘too good to be true’ category or a case of the Leafs not doing their due diligence.” Brad Treliving appears to be taking a calculated, low-risk gamble with this. Until he is ready to play, the Leafs can use Hakanpää as a long-term injury. Beyond the fact that the Leafs will continue to tighten pennies, burying Hakanpää’s contract on the Marlies will only cost $350,000 and won’t damage much if he arrives without playing at an NHL caliber.
Toronto added Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev to a six-year contract in addition to Hakanpää to strengthen their defense.
“We have a defensive group. We will attempt to resolve this in the upcoming days. I would rather to have too many than not enough. You can add players today, but during the summer, you assemble your team. Treliving continued, “There are undoubtedly some areas that we still want to improve and enhance.
However, Hakanpää’s agreement with the Maple Leafs is not yet official, and it is unclear if it will be fulfilled.
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