Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign D Jani Hakanpaa (2 years, $1.5M AAV) [in progress; medical delay?]

[Namikaze Minato]

I love how we always just pencil in Lil, the guy who three playoffs in a row has lost his spot. Ringer.

You still trusting in Keefe's player judgements after all the great decisions he has made here, eh? Let's see how Berube manages him and his playing time/ partners instead of crying about him being benched in the playoffs by a guy who was routinely out-coached.

 

[crump]

He got his chance he blew it.

Yes his decision to be injured for half the season was a bad choice on his part. I see what you’re saying.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

I love how we always just pencil in Lil, the guy who three playoffs in a row has lost his spot. Ringer.

He's a better player than Hakanpaa so yes I will pencil him in for now. Needs to play as he did before his injury last year.

 

[notbias]

I love how we always just pencil in Lil, the guy who three playoffs in a row has lost his spot. Ringer.

It seems odd to sign a #7 to $3 million... I am sure they intend to play him.

 

[The Shrike]

He's a better player than Hakanpaa so yes I will pencil him in for now. Needs to play as he did before his injury last year.

Liljegren is certainly far more talented (long before he was drafted he was touted as a possible 1st overall pick) than Hakanpaa, but that talent is still untapped. Hakanpaa on the other hand is a late bloomer who is situationally effective as a defensive defenseman. The guy literally starts 8 out of every 10 shifts in his own zone, hits every thing that moves, not lightly either, and draws very few penalties doing so. I can see why Berube would be interested in him.

 

[egd27]

They tied up a contract spot and $1.5M in cap space they don't have while they wait for it to get sorted out as a result.

You must be running out things to complain about if you down to this one.

 

[Menzinger]

They didn't give Lily 6 million to not play him much.

Setting yourself up for disappointment if you're expecting otherwise

 

[keonsbitterness]

You must be running out things to complain about if you down to this one.

He'll find more.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Yes his decision to be injured for half the season was a bad choice on his part. I see what you’re saying.

The best ability is availability, if you aren't available I don't want you, especially if you are a fringe player.

We can find somebody else to do what Timmins does for cheaper.

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

The best ability is availability, if you aren't available I don't want you, especially if you are a fringe player.

We can find somebody else to do what Timmins does for cheaper.

Fully agreed. I have no time for players with physical and mental issues. Injury-prone players or players that take "take time away for mental health" should have their contracts torn up in front of their faces.

 

[RoadWarrior]

You really don't think a team would request a player's medical records beforw signing him?



I don't understamd why they felt the need to rush into sign him to begin with given his medical history.

Why wait a year, paying him $1.5M on LTIR to not play, instead of rushing to sign him. They could have just as easily signed someone healrhy who would be ready to start the year. Wait until Hakanpaa was ready to go and then sign him to a one year show me deal.

Signing a guy to a two ywar deal because you are worried you aren't gonna get the first year out of him doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.



To me it looks lime he's taking a shot in the dark on a player with very limited upside.

Hakinpaa is an elite penalty killer and punishing hitter who is very effective at clearing the front of the net. That was a key missing piece for this team last season.

He was just named to the Finnish National team in the upcoming 4 nations tournament.

Is there risk in the signing? Quite frankly no. They can void the contract if he fails a physical or declared unfit to play before the start of the season.

The cost benefit ratio here is very positive.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Fully agreed. I have no time for players with physical and mental issues. Injury-prone players or players that take "take time away for mental health" should have their contracts torn up in front of their faces.

Players with mental issues shouldn’t come to high pressure markets like Toronto for their own well-being, that’s pretty obvious. Guys like Samsonov and Campbell had some admirable stretches where they fought against adversity but ultimately significantly shortened their careers by playing here. They’d be playing well into their late 30s if they stuck to small market teams with no media pressure or playoff expectations but instead they’ll both likely be out of the league in their early 30s, and that’s to say nothing of what kind of damage the market did to their personal lives.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Fully agreed. I have no time for players with physical and mental issues. Injury-prone players or players that take "take time away for mental health" should have their contracts torn up in front of their faces.

No one said anything about voiding his contract, although in some cases yeah they deserve that, case in point Nuke in Colorado, you know It's bad when even his teammates have had enough.

But Timmins doesn't deserve that, He should still get paid, just trade him if you can, and if you can't send him to the minors.

Just get his cap hit off the team he's not needed.

Even if he were healthy he wouldn't be needed because even if Hakanpaa can't play and his contract is voided there are still AT LEAST 6 guys ahead of Timmins

 

[conFABulator]

No one said anything about voiding his contract, although in some cases yeah they deserve that, case in point Nuke in Colorado, you know It's bad when even his teammates have had enough.

But Timmins doesn't deserve that, He should still get paid, just trade him if you can, and if you can't send him to the minors.

Just get his cap hit off the team he's not needed.

Even if he were healthy he wouldn't be needed because even if Hakanpaa can't play and his contract is voided there are still AT LEAST 6 guys ahead of Timmins

The Timmins contract is of zero concern. If we waive him and he gets claimed, he is gone. If we doesn't then we can bury teh whole thing on the Marlies.

He is intriguing though, if he could stay healthy and develop a bit we would benefit from a big RD, PP addition. He really has to show health and growth the be a factor though.

 

[thewave]

Where in the world is Hakanapaa?!

 

[Hellcat]

They didn't give Lily 6 million to not play him much.

Setting yourself up for disappointment if you're expecting otherwise

They gave him $6 mil to retain a low end asset at a tradeable cap hit, he will not finish the season with the Leafs.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Where in the world is Hakanapaa?!

 

[DarkKnight]

They gave him $6 mil to retain a low end asset at a tradeable cap hit, he will not finish the season with the Leafs.

Recall as well just before he signed, word was leaking out the Leafs weren’t happy with him. Let’s keep it real, if he wasn’t right handed, he wasn’t even in the mix last year. He was a disaster in the playoffs, I see the signing as hedging their bets, and I have no doubt he’s trade fodder if we add more to the backend. Three straight playoffs he has either been left out or awful, he okayed his best hockey two seasons ago, pencilling this guy, to me he’s less a Berube guy than a Keefe guy. Hopefully he finds consistency, but his hockey IQ under duress isn’t NHL caliber, at least for a team with aspirations.

 

[Mess]

Hakinpaa is an elite penalty killer and punishing hitter who is very effective at clearing the front of the net. That was a key missing piece for this team last season.

He was just named to the Finnish National team in the upcoming 4 nations tournament.

Is there risk in the signing? Quite frankly no. They can void the contract if he fails a physical or declared unfit to play before the start of the season.

The cost benefit ratio here is very positive.

Even if he sits on LTIR until December recovering from his knee injury.

Leafs don't really need him for the regular season, but they would love him for the playoffs, and by signing now and sitting him being patient, its like making a TDL move later that would have costed assets (picks and prospects) but now free.

The fact that they have not yet filed it officially means they can see and re-evaluate the situation in a few months time and worst case simply void the contract on a failed physical, where his NHL career might be over.

 

[Menzinger]

They gave him $6 mil to retain a low end asset at a tradeable cap hit, he will not finish the season with the Leafs.

I think they would have let him walk and spend the caphit in free agency on other D men if that was the plan. Or would have traded his rights. I don't seem them locking a guy into a multi year deal that they're borderline being done with.

Personally, I had assumed he was heading out the door, but imo I think management has had a change of heart on the guy based on their actions

 

[Mess]

I think they would have let him walk and spend the caphit in free agency on other D men if that was the plan. Or would have traded his rights. I don't seem them locking a guy into a multi year deal that they're borderline being done with.

Personally, I had assumed he was heading out the door, but imo I think management has had a change of heart on the guy based on their actions

He does still make a good trade chip however in trade, now under contract for a couple years.

If something better or bigger deal came along I wouldn't be surprised if Lilly was going the other way personally.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

You guys convinced me.

Giving out two year deals with a $1.5M AAV to a bottom pairing (some say 7th) defenseman who may never play again is a great idea. Can you imagine how much Treliving would have given this guy if he was healthy. I'm surprised no other GM's are taking advantage of this market inefficiency.

This is the type of progressive innovation the Leafs are famous for.

 

[Magic Man]

Hakanpaa had played 3 fully healthy seasons before this year where he missed time due to injury.

He makes 1.5M per for 2 years. Most of that can be buried if they need room. I had him one spot behind Zadorov on my FA list. Zadorov got 5M per for 6 years, Hakanpaa got 1.5M per for 2 years. Some smooth business there after the expensive contracts OEL and Tanev got.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Man, so much crying just for the sake of crying.

 

[ULF_55]

Even if he sits on LTIR until December recovering from his knee injury.

Leafs don't really need him for the regular season, but they would love him for the playoffs, and by signing now and sitting him being patient, its like making a TDL move later that would have costed assets (picks and prospects) but now free.

The fact that they have not yet filed it officially means they can see and re-evaluate the situation in a few months time and worst case simply void the contract on a failed physical, where his NHL career might be over.

I'm sure both team and player are okay with the situation.

Hakanpaa will play if healthy and it will be with Leafs.

If he isn't healthy, and is done it's done.