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Maple Leafs GM breaks silence about Jani Hakanpaa's signing being shrouded in speculation for months
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving recently addressed the Jani Hakanpaa situation. TSN insider Mark Masters spoke to Treliving, focusing on the ongoing saga involving the 6’7” Fiinnish blueliner.
Treliving had this to say about Jani Hakanpaa’s signing:
“It’s been a whole summer project.”
The comment comes on the heels of the Maple Leafs signing Hakanpaa to a one-year, $1.47 million deal. While the signing was originally reported at the opening of free agency on July 1, the contract was never officially registered with the NHL.
Then, reports surfaced regarding a knee injury Hakanpaa had suffered while playing with the Dallas Stars last season. The injury was reported to be career-threatening, delaying Hakanpaa’s signing with Toronto. Treliving addressed this issue, saying:
"There's certainly always risk with any person coming off an injury, but he's put in a lot of work really since he had surgery.
"He had a scope on his knee I think in March, went through sort of healing and then rehab, but he's doing well. And now we'll get our hands on him on an every-day basis and kind of see where it goes."
Overall, Hakanpaa is expected to be at the Leafs’ training camp next week. Since it appears he’s healthy, Hakanpaa should be in the mix for a job with the club this upcoming season. Given the number of capable blueliners on the Leafs’ roster, there is sure to be some interesting competition.
Projecting where Jani Hakanpaa fits into the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup
Hakanpaa is an attractive option for the Toronto Maple Leafs given his size and physical play. As per Masters, Jani Hakanpaa could be a solid addition to the Leafs penalty kill unit.
Moreover, Hakanpaa is a right-shot defenseman, something the Leafs have lacked in previous seasons. The Leafs are set on the left side with Morgan Rielly leading the way. However, the right side has been a challenge.
Beyond Timothy Liljegren, the Leafs had few options on the right side. The addition of Chris Tanev helped solve the issue.
Now, adding Hakanpaa gives the Leafs another right-handed backend to balance the lineup. Jani Hakanpaa could easily slot in alongside Jake McCabe in a shutdown role, or perhaps play in the bottom pairing while the club assesses the extent of Hakanpaa’s recovery.
Having Hakanpaa officially inked to a deal gives coach Craig Berube more options. The club looks to ice a stronger blue line in front of goaltenders Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz this upcoming season.
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