The Toronto Maple Leafs made a flurry of signings on the opening day of free company, together with the choice to herald Jani Hakanpaa on a two-year $3 million contract with a median annual worth of $1.5 million. To some, it was a slight overpay, although including a bodily defenceman with a 6-foot-6 stature was one thing few have been complaining about.
Associated: Toronto Maple Leafs’ Level Projections for 2024-25
Now, a month previous the deal reportedly being signed, the Maple Leafs have but to formally announce it. Normal supervisor Brad Treliving hasn’t provided up a solution as to why, although a report from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Solar urged {that a} knee harm could stop Hakanpaa from ever enjoying once more (from ‘Steve Simmons: Maple Leafs signings – The great, the unhealthy, and the ugly,’ Toronto Solar, 7/1/24).
Since Simmons’ report, followers have grown more and more skeptical about whether or not the deal between the Maple Leafs and Hakanpaa has gone by way of. As every day passes, it appears extra possible that his report was correct, and a brand new picture that has surfaced of the 32-year-old casts much more doubt over his future with the Maple Leafs.
Hakanpaa Noticed Carrying Stars Jersey
Over this previous weekend, Hakanpaa, who spent the previous two seasons with the Dallas Stars, attended an All-Star Charity Golf Event in Oulu, Finland. Now, from the sounds of that, it’s possible you’ll be considering it’s a great signal that he’s wholesome. Sadly, that’s by no means the place we’re going with this.
Hakanpaa didn’t play within the event. As a substitute, he was there taking images and signing autographs for followers. That’s the place this complete story, and his future with the Maple Leafs, takes an enormous flip and turns into very, very complicated.
Followers seen that within the footage that surfaced, Hakanpaa was sporting a Stars jersey, slightly than a Maple Leafs one. That may be a really unusual transfer for an NHL participant to make, and appears to counsel to most that, on the very least, his contract isn’t but official for the 2024-25 season.
Associated: Maple Leafs’ Free-Agent Signings Not as Strong as Many Consider
Shortly after the picture had surfaced, David Alter of The Hockey Information wrote on X that he reached out to Hakanpaa’s camp concerning the defenceman’s future final week, however by no means acquired any kind of reply. It definitely appears as if some issues are happening behind the scenes given how quiet each the Maple Leafs and Hakanpaa are being about this complete state of affairs.
Maple Leafs Have Inside Choices for Substitute
Ideally, Hakanpaa can be wholesome and good to go for the Maple Leafs proper from the get-go in 2024-25. Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be a lot of a chance at this level, although that doesn’t imply it’s time for the fan base to panic.
The Maple Leafs have a number of different choices on the again finish that may fill in as replacements, albeit as totally different types of gamers. Guys like Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jake McCabe are anticipated to be within the lineup each night time. Timothy Liljegen continues to be a little bit of a query mark, although this could possibly be the season he actually finds his stride.
If Hakanpaa have been good to go, Simon Benoit would possible have been considered because the Maple Leafs’ seventh defenceman, however he has confirmed able to enjoying a bottom-pairing position. Additionally they have Conor Timmins who, if he may ever keep wholesome, appears to have reputable NHL expertise. Philippe Myers, who has over 150 video games of NHL expertise, was additionally signed this summer time as a depth possibility.
The underside line is that no matter Hakanpaa’s well being, the Maple Leafs blue line can be okay. Whereas getting some readability on his enjoying future will surely assist put ease to what has been a ton of hypothesis, it’s clear the participant and group aren’t keen to do this at the moment. Maybe we received’t get a solution till coaching camp opens in September.
