Brad Treliving Shares Update on Jani Hakanpaa's Recovery During LTIR

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Daniel Lucente
October 8, 2024 (6:58 PM)

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GM of the Leafs Brad Treliving finally opened up about the status of Jani Hakanpaa and when fans can expect to see him back on the ice in a Leafs jersey.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving gave an update on the status of defenceman Jani Hakanpaa, who was placed on LTIR before the start of the 2024-25 season. Hakanpaa is rehabilitating a knee injury but has taken some small steps, participating in some non-contact drills during the team's training camp.

He also came back for practice in Muskoka, Ontario on October 2nd. The problem is, due to the LTIR designation, Hakanpaa will have to miss the first 10 games of the year and won't be eligible to return until November 2nd at the earliest, as the Leafs host the St. Louis Blues.

«Touch wood, there have been no setbacks,» Treliving said of Hakanpaa via Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun. «He's been practising, but it hasn't been full contact. We'll have a game plan in the next couple weeks, whether that means maybe getting him into games with the (AHL's Toronto) Marlies on a conditioning stint. We'll see.»

Jani Hakanpaa signed with the Maple Leafs on a one-year contract worth $1.47 million signed on September 11. This was after reports over the summer indicated he was initially expected to sign a two-year deal worth $3 million. At 6-foot-7, Hakanpaa brings the kind of physicality and defensive presence Brad Treliving has been looking for in reshaping the team's defense.

Before the injury, he had played 64 games with the Dallas Stars in which he scored two goals and tallied 12 points. Unfortunately for Hakanpaa, his knee injury cut his season short, leaving questions about how quickly he can regain form with his new team.

The development of Jani Hakanpaa's role will be one of intrigue early in the season given his size and crowded competition for spots on the Leafs' blue line. With the top five already decided, much intrigue surrounds what needs to be proven by Hakanpaa upon his return to make a case for his place in the lineup over the coming weeks.

With the later dates in October approaching for Jani Hakanpaa, especially around November 2nd, all eyes will be on him to see how he'll fit into a Leafs defensive rotation. His health and performance might just be the key factor that shapes up to be an extremely important season.