The Maple Leafs have not signed defenseman Jani Hakanpaa despite expressing excitement over the player in July.
One of the most bizarre situations to unfold for the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason is the status of unrestricted free-agent defenseman Jani Hakanpaa.
Expressing excitement over what the Finnish player would bring to the Maple Leafs, it would just be a few days later when Postmedia's Steve Simmons reported that there were some concerns around the league the defenseman could play a game again given the knee injury that shut him down with the Dallas Stars last season..
Speaking on TSN's First Up with Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo on Tuesday, TSN's Chris Johnston provided an update on the situation.
“He didn't actually sign. Where the confusion comes in is that the Leafs obviously had an intent to sign him on July 1st, when (Maple Leafs GM) Brad Treliving was speaking to reporters , he talked about his excitement to add Jani Hakanpaa, and to the best of my knowledge, the reason it hasn't happened is the concern about an injury he had to end last season. I think his knee is basically bone on bone at this point, and you've got a player who thinks he can play, but maybe some medical opinions that are casting doubt on that, and we'll just have to see if they ultimately do sign him.
Treliving spoke to reporters a couple of weeks ago following the announcement of Auston Matthews as the new captain of the Leafs and said he was "working through" the Hakanpaa situation.
“The longer it goes and he doesn't have a contract, it doesn't look like he's going to end up with one. But the best I can say right now is — I don't know 100 percent — it's not going to go that way," Johnston said. "Just the writing doesn't appear to be too encouraging. And again, this would be just a case where the Leafs would have concern or their doctors or whoever they're relying on for advice. It's just too big of a risk that he won't be able to play because of the condition of his knee.”
Earlier this summer, Hakanpaa attended a charity golf tournament in Finland while wearing a Stars jersey, casting further doubt on the players' status with the Leafs. Messages to Hakanpaa's representatives have gone unanswered.
Hakanpaa had two goals and 10 assists in 64 games with Dallas last season. He was shut down for the remainder of the regular season on Mar. 16. He skated with the Stars later during the team's playoff run into the Western Conference final but did not play in any playoff games.
