300-game NHL veteran reportedly hasn't signed with the Maple Leafs yet
Just weeks after having signed the 300-game NHL defenseman, it no longer appears that Jani Hakanpaa will be joining the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Leafs GM Brad Treliving made a splash last year when they signed former Dallas Star John Klingberg, which unfortunately didn't work out as he suffered a major injury and had to be placed on the long-term injured reserve list.
"The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed defenseman John Klingberg on long-term injured reserve as he deals with an ailing hip injury.
Klingberg had double hip replacement surgery in 2018 and it appears to be a lingering issue #LeafsForever"
The Leafs once again went after more Dallas Stars players during this year's free agency, as they signed Chris Tanev and Jani Hakanpaa.
"The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed 6'7» defenseman Jani Hakanpaa to a 2-year, $1.5M AAV contract."
History has repeated itself for a second year in a row, as Hakanpaa has not passed his physical due to a lingering injury and was not medically cleared and unfit to play, hereby ending the contract the Leafs had signed him to.
"The #LeafsForever reported contract for Hakanpaa ($1.5M * 2) has still not been registered.
As a result, we've removed him from our projected Leafs roster for now. You'll still see the contract on his page, but he's not assigned to our Leafs roster."
There's still a chance that Hakanpaa can once again attempt to pass his physical to be medically cleared, and at that point he would be eligible to be put back on the Leafs roster, however this definitely isn't a good look, nor a good start.
Credit Markerzone:
Toronto Maple Leafs seem to have officially lost rights to 300-game NHL veteran
POLL |
Will Jani Hakanpaa ever play for the Maple Leafs? |
Yes | 129 | 30.3 % |
No | 297 | 69.7 % |
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