Maple Leafs Provide Key Update on Connor Dewar and Jani Hakanpaa: How Close Are They to Returning?
The Maple Leafs announced some updates regarding Connor Dewar and Jani Hakanpaa and gave some insight into when fans can see them return to the team.
With a lot of questions surrounding how the Maple Leafs will respond after two straight losses, there's also been the question of when free agent Jani Hakanpaa will make his debut for the team, as well as the condition of Connor Dewar after shoulder surgery. Hakanpaa had a whirlwind of a summer, and has slowly been making his way back to form in the early stages of this season.
So with anticipation around these two men's debuts growing, the Maple Leafs are signaling they may be closer than initially anticipated:
Both men are traveling with the club on their road trip which will see them make stops in Boston, Winnipeg, Seattle, and St. Louis before heading back. While neither men are eligible for the current two-game span, it's a positive sign that they're closer to being a part of Toronto's lineup than not.
Jani Hakanpaa
Hakanpaa, a towering 6'7 Finnish defenseman, signed with the Maple Leafs initially this offseason for 2 years, had a lot of concerns about his well-being and readiness coming into this season due to a nagging knee issue. Signing eventually for a one-year deal for slightly less money, Hakanpaa is trying to make his way back to the elite form that he had as a member of the Dallas Stars. An elite shutdown presence, he uses his body and length to disrupt opponents and shooting lanes, not afraid to lay his body on the line.
Connor Dewar
Dewar, drafted 92nd overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2018, he was traded to Toronto in 2024 for Dmitri Ovchinnikov and a 4th-round pick. He managed five points in 17 games for Toronto, but also had 10 goals and four assists for the Wild that season before being traded, giving him 19 points in 74 games. He will add a bottom-line scoring punch to a Maple Leafs lineup constantly rotating in order to find some chemistry. He would be a replacement over Ryan Reaves and could find himself alongside Pontus Holmberg and David Kampf; though if the latter gets traded it could be Fraser Minten sliding in.
Future Outlook
Both men will look to make a huge impact when they return, and if the Maple Leafs are struggling like they currently are, their return could be a massive morale boost. If they come back and Toronto is riding a hot hand, they may have to wait a bit to find their way into the lineup, lest Toronto messes with the chemistry of their team.
Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar will both play in the NHL this season, the only question is how many games, and whether can they hold up to the rigors of the NHL schedule after so much time away.
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