NHL: New Jersey Devils at Dallas Stars - Source: Imagn — Defenceman Jani Hakanpaa opens up on future with Toronto Maple Leafs amid rumors and uncertainty (Image credit: Imagn)

NHL insider delves into Maple Leafs' Jani Hakanpaa's future with franchise amid delay in contract signing

Modified Aug 17, 2024 15:47 GMT

This summer, Jani Hakanpaa signed a two-year, $3 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs to bolster the team's defensive line. Despite that, the team has yet to formally announce the signing and add Hakanpaa to their roster online, raising questions about his future with the team.

Late last season, Hakanpaa dealt with a knee injury, leading him to miss the final 13 games of the regular season and the Dallas Stars' entire postseason run.

Ultimately, Hakanpaa underwent surgery to repair the damage to his knee; however, so far, his future has been unclear. On The Chris Johnston Show, the NHL insider spoke about the situation, providing fans with a much-needed update.

"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," Johnston said.

"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."

"We're working through that.": Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving plays cards close to the vest when asked about Jani Hakanpaa's status

This offseason has been a big one for the Toronto Maple Leafs, with the franchise promoting young Auston Matthews to captain. With stars like Mitch Marner and former captain John Tavares in attendance, the front office made Matthews' captaincy official before opening up the floor for questions.

At one point, GM Brad Treliving was asked about Jani Hakanpaa's status and his future with the team.

"We're working through that. Today, we're dealing with this. But we'll get to that, hopefully, sooner rather than later," the general manager said.

While Treliving didn't provide much of an update regarding Jani Hakanpaa's future, it's important to note that the Maple Leafs' medical staff reportedly gave the go-ahead before the team signed the defenseman to a two-year deal.

However, it's unclear if things have changed behind the scenes over the past month to warrant a new level of concern for Hakanpaa's future with the team.