Jani Hakanpaa situation with the Maple Leafs takes a surprising turn per source

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Daniel Lucente
August 27, 2024 (1:41 PM)

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An NHL insider isn't very optimistic when it comes to seeing Jani Hakanpaa in a Leafs jersey, as he feels it's been dragging on for way too long.

The uncertainty surrounding Jani Hakanpaa's potential deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs continues to grow, casting doubt on whether the big Finnish defenseman will ever don the blue and white jersey. As time passes with no decision being made, the likelihood of the deal coming to fruition seems to diminish.

This ongoing saga was brought into discussion during a recent appearance by NHL insider Chris Johnston on TSN 1050's "First Up". Johnston shed light on the situation, explaining that Jani Hakanpaa has not officially signed with the Leafs, a delay resulting from lingering concerns over his knee health. Although Hakanpaa is confident in his ability to play, conflicting medical evaluations from different doctors have created a cloud of uncertainty over his future with the team.

Chris Johnston did explain the situation in greater detail, which isn't the greatest news if you're a Leafs fan.

«The fact that's gone on this long probably doesn't suggest good things, encouraging things,» Johnston said. «The longer it goes and he doesn't have a contract, it doesn't look like he's gonna end up with one. But the best I can say right now is I don't know 100% it's not going to go that way, just the writing doesn't appear to be too encouraging. This would be just a case where the Leafs would have concern or their doctors or whoever they're relying on for advice that it's too big of a risk that he won't be able to play because of the condition of his knee.»

While there is still time for things to improve before the start of training camp, the nature of this situation suggests that Jani Hakanpaa's journey to becoming a Maple Leaf is increasingly unlikely. The news that he never actually inked a deal with the team indicates that the holdup is directly tied to his health issues, with the Leafs waiting for a clean bill of health before proceeding any further.

Jani Hakanpaa's knee issue led the Dallas Stars to part ways with him, allowing him to enter free agency. At first, Toronto's medical team seemed to give the green light for negotiations to continue, but it now appears they may have uncovered the same concerns that led the Stars to no longer want him on their roster, leading to the current situation we're seeing.

Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving briefly addressed the situation during a recent press conference, stating that the team is "working through it" and expressing hope for a resolution shortly. Treliving's comments came on the same day Auston Matthews was announced as the new team captain.

With the start of training camp and preseason games fast approaching, the Leafs are under pressure to figure this situation out as quickly as possible. Should Jani Hakanpaa ultimately be deemed unfit to play, the Leafs will need to quickly shift to another option. The free-agent market has thinned out considerably, leaving few right-handed defensemen available. Furthermore, the decision on Hakanpaa will have significant implications for Toronto's salary cap strategy, as they are close to the limit and still have to figure out what they are planning to do with unsigned Nick Robertson.

Jani Hakanpaa was a fourth round draft pick by the St. Louis Blues back in 2010, and has played in 288 career games. He suited up in 64 games with the Dallas Stars last season, scoring two goals and 10 assists, for 12 points. He finished with a very solid +10 rating, proving he is a fantastic shut down defenseman, when healthy.

Source: NHL.com
Jani Hakanpaa Stats