Jani Hakanpaa makes surprising statement on possible career-ending injury

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Julien Trekker
August 17, 2024 (4:59 PM)

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The defenseman Jani Hakanpaa made a surprising statement about his possible career-ending knee injury.

After missing the playoffs with the Dallas Stars because of a knee injury, Hakanpaa entered the free agent market and reached a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

According to PuckPedia, he agreed on a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.5M.

However, his injury could be coming in the way of him keeping up his end of the deal.

The insider Chris Johnston stated on his podcast that Hakanpaa believes he can play despite his injury, despite the risks it could have on his future.

Here's what he said:

''He believes he can play on his knee. But I don't know that there's unanimity in that opinion from those that are looking at his medical file and just concerns that, essentially, he's got bone-on-bone. It's not a situation that could be terribly comfortable. I think it really comes down to the medical opinion, how much risk the organization is willing to take. But Hakanpaa certainly seems intent on continuing his career, feels that maybe he needs some time off but will be able to play, ultimately, on that knee.''

"What's interesting about medical-related issues is some players do manage to play through certain things that others can't. I mean, everyone's bodies are different, pain tolerance, what have you. I guess the X-rays themselves are black and white, but sometimes the information isn't black and white."'

Hakanpaa, 32, could be risking his future in the NHL if he decides to play through the injury.

The defenseman played a great role on the Dallas Stars blue line for the past three seasons. While his offensive contributions were limited to 40 points in three years, he brought a physical and defensive presence that could go a long way in Toronto; if he can stay healthy.

Source for Jani Hakanpaa's statistics:
PuckPedia