Sell my jersey on ebay, they said. Pffft.
Leafs Sign Defenceman Jani Hakanpää 1 Year 1 47m Official
- Thread starter SprDaVE
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DarkKnight
Professional Amateur
- Jan 17, 2017
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They aren’t the same at all, Pac has played plenty this year, and there is no reason to think he can’t come back. Many thought Hak’s career was over and this season has 100 percent confirmed why people thought that, he’s literally bone on bone with his knee. If he suits up now it’s a miracle, Pac I fully expect he’s back, as does everyone around the team, they can see what’s going on here. Hak can’t even stay on the ice for a few days in a row going back to December, he clearly isn’t LTIR manipulation,
The Iceman
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- Sep 22, 2007
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Hakanpaa. This late in the season perhaps a knee pain can be managed.
Knee injection of synvisc for the bone on bone. Treat the swelling with basic meds.
Where as an 80 game grind not reasonable.
Knee injection of synvisc for the bone on bone. Treat the swelling with basic meds.
Where as an 80 game grind not reasonable.
Agreed with this.
Klingberg was an intelligent gamble that didn’t work out, but this was just stupid.
The man has a clearly diagnosed problem with his knee and Dallas, who had detailed knowledge of the player and the condition, decided it was best to move on.
Did Toronto believe that their medical staff were otherworldly and could provide bionic healing not available in Dallas, or that his knee would behave differently in Toronto?
Money thrown away, and along with Liljegren, these signings likely cost us Matt Roy.
There are intelligent gambles but this wasn’t one of them. Completely unsurprising outcome, and it was so unnecessary.
The Shadow
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- Feb 9, 2013
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TMLBlueandWhite
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- Feb 2, 2023
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Just because a signing is "risk free" doesn't mean it's a good one.
Hakanpaa was a bad signing the moment it was announced. It looked like an even worse signing after he played only two crummy games. And it looks even worse now being as Hakanpaa hasn't played another game since.
The lack of due diligence applied to this decision is concerning.
It makes me question pro scouting. It also makes me question Treliving's entire decision making process. If Matthews is a franchise player and they can't build a winning roster around him they've completely mismanaged this team.
They need to be adding players capable of playing quality hockey on value contracts.
Not guys whose careers are in jeopardy due to injury. Signing a guy like Hakanpaa isn't good roster building no matter how little you pay him. A waste of $1.5M and a roster spot on a guy who played two lousy games.
Another master class in asset management Toronto Maple Leafs style.
Hakanpaa was a bad signing the moment it was announced. It looked like an even worse signing after he played only two crummy games. And it looks even worse now being as Hakanpaa hasn't played another game since.
The lack of due diligence applied to this decision is concerning.
It makes me question pro scouting. It also makes me question Treliving's entire decision making process. If Matthews is a franchise player and they can't build a winning roster around him they've completely mismanaged this team.
They need to be adding players capable of playing quality hockey on value contracts.
Not guys whose careers are in jeopardy due to injury. Signing a guy like Hakanpaa isn't good roster building no matter how little you pay him. A waste of $1.5M and a roster spot on a guy who played two lousy games.
Another master class in asset management Toronto Maple Leafs style.
Fogelhund
Registered User
- Sep 15, 2007
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.
How much money did this personally cost anyone here?
How much cap space did this cost?
He didn't cost a roster spot... he's not on the roster.
Team is at 47/50 contracts... this did nothing to prevent us from adding players.
This is a giant nothing burger, except for those looking for an excuse to complain. Big deal, they took a chance on a guy... it didn't work out, and it has no ramifications of any kind for the team.
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Al14
Registered User
- Jul 13, 2007
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If our Leafs wanted Jani as a key piece on our D, why didn't they get him an immediate knee replacement as soon as they signed him and he failed his medical?
He could have been ready for the start of the 2026-2027 regular season.
As of right now, this was a waste of a signing and will continue if no medical intervention is made.
He could have been ready for the start of the 2026-2027 regular season.
As of right now, this was a waste of a signing and will continue if no medical intervention is made.
Mess
Global Moderator
If the Leafs get this GIANT monster of a DMan back for the playoffs it will be a HUGE advantage.
X66
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Ya'll fooling yourself if you don't think Berube plays Hakanpaa if available.
I mean, IF he were to be healthy and able to contribute, he’d be a welcomed addition to our PK.
He had bad numbers with the Stars last year PKing (worst of the D).
Is he an upgrade on Benoit?
Happy to try it out, Benoit sucks, just curious to hear Mess reference something other than a cap hit to try to justify someone in the lineup.
X66
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Basically he's big, mean, nasty and is the type of Dman you need for the front of the net and PK in the playoffs.
For a sheltered 3rd pairing guy, I'd take him over Benoit 10/10.
Hakanpaa was generally considered a PK beasts for the Stars during the last playoffs he played
I love this guys game. He’s mean. Him and Simon on the back end. The only soft d man in the lineup will be Reilly. And if it’s Tamara Bay Reilly with two black eyes , then he’s not soft either.
rumman
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- Sep 10, 2008
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Highly doubt it, but if this guy can come back and play in the playoffs on the third pair with OEL, it could be pretty darn good!
Leaf Fans
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- Sep 29, 2017
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Considering he doesn't have great skating or puck movement ( though it is ok when moving the puck away from the net front), it has to be his size, strength and ability to clear the front of the net- also he is nasty.
Maple Leaf
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Skullz
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- Jul 5, 2013
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I think just getting OEL back on the left side would be a huge win. He's a good play when healthy, which he is not.
Stephen
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If Hakanpaa comes back to play in a few playoff games here and there, stands tall to protect a lead in the last minutes of the third and eats a puck here and helps the team advance, it'll have been worth it. His contract was a minimal investment.
Maple Leaf
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