Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Jani Hakanpaa - 2 years 1.5M AAV (in progress)

[bax]

Guys a monster lol So replaces Edmundson but also shoots right. I’ll take that.

 

[PromisedLand]

It's a little weird the Stars decided to let him go and sign Lyubushkin for 2 years instead.

Yup same thoughts exactly. What do they know that we don't?

 

[leafsfan5]

Move off Timmins and we have like 2.05 million in cap space

 

[PromisedLand]

Lyubushking is worth over 3M but Hakanpaa 1.5M?

I will say this is good business from Treliving.

My guess is that Hakanpaa wanted a lot more money which Dallas didn't want to give out, now that money has dried up he is taking what is available before more money is dried out.

OR

Dallas knows something that Leafs don't LMAO

 

[Buds17]

Does this mean they try to move Lily ?

This is my worry. We also appear to need something more at forward.

 

[Warden of the North]

Well at the very least it saves a 2nd round pick at the deadline from being used on a bottom pairing expiring dman.

 

[SprDaVE]

Does this mean they try to move Lily ?

I'd be shocked. Seems like Liljegren doesn't expect to move either based on his extension interview. But you never know I guess.

I suspect Timmins will be packaged with Robertson, or just flat out waived unless he dominates pre-season again.

My guess is that Hakanpaa wanted a lot more money which Dallas didn't want to give out, now that money has dried up he is taking what is available before more money is dried out.

OR

Dallas knows something that Leafs don't LMAO

He's older and got injured this past season. Maybe he just wanted to move on. Who knows. It's just weird Dallas gave up twice the money for a similar player.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Move off Timmins and we have like 2.05 million in cap space

Add in Kampf to that pile and sign Dewar for 1.5 and you have enough to add 1 3M forward.

 

[Rude Dog]

I like this. Especially if he can get healthy. Dollars much better spent than on Eddy or Boosh.

 

[PromisedLand]

He's older and got injured this past season. Maybe he just wanted to move on. Who knows. It's just weird Dallas gave up twice the money for a similar player.

This is what is surprising to me. They paid more for similar player. I wonder if their medical team stated that this is a risky contract and they went different route.

TBD how it pans out for the leafs. I am really surprised that dallas chose Boosh over him and twice the amount

 

[Magic Man]

Zadorov, Dillon and Edmundson style defender without the heavy contract.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Really curious how the D pairings will shake out. Rielly-Tanev is a given. Little need for McCabe to play the right side now but if he goes back to LD one of OEL or Benoit will be sitting. Liljegren isn’t getting scratched after having $3 million a year committed to him.

Rielly-Tanev
OEL-McCabe
Benoit-Liljegren

Webber and Hakanpää as extras.

 

[notbias]

Was he a healthy scratch or dealing with injury all playoffs? He didn't play.

Anyway, I think this means Benoit is the #7.

I'm not sure Hakanpaa is an upgrade on him though.

Rielly - Tanev
McCabe - Liljegren
OEL - Hakanpaa

It's a little weird the Stars decided to let him go and sign Lyubushkin for 2 years instead.

They signed a better D, I don't think it is weird.

 

[SprDaVE]

Was he a healthy scratch or dealing with injury all playoffs? He didn't play.

Anyway, I think this means Benoit is the #7.

I'm not sure Hakanpaa is an upgrade on him though.

Rielly - Tanev
McCabe - Liljegren
OEL - Hakanpaa



They signed a better D, I don't think it is weird.

He was injured. It's the main reason Dallas made a big push to get Tanev.

And not sure what suggests he's better. And even if you think he's better -- something I can probably agree to, he certainly isn't twice as better. We're talking about Lyubushkin here... right?

 

[stickty111]

Really curious how the D pairings will shake out. Rielly-Tanev is a given. Little need for McCabe to play the right side now but if he goes back to LD one of OEL or Benoit will be sitting. Liljegren isn’t getting scratched after having $3 million a year committed to him.

Rielly-Tanev
OEL-McCabe
Benoit-Liljegren

Webber and Hakanpää as extras.

Could look at it like this. Liljegren was insurance when we couldn't get another big name D, and Hakanpaa is insurance for Liljegren if he doesn't take a step.

 

[Gabriel426]

My guess is that Hakanpaa wanted a lot more money which Dallas didn't want to give out, now that money has dried up he is taking what is available before more money is dried out.

OR

Dallas knows something that Leafs don't LMAO

Or he likes colder weather bc he is from Finland

 

[Leafsfan74]

Yup same thoughts exactly. What do they know that we don't?

Sometimes a player becomes stale or out of favor. That's the NHL for 50% of the league. An injury away from being shelfed, traded or out of the league. A bad stretch from being waived or demoted.

I like experienced D Men. Leafs D is primarily veteran laden with quite a few in their prime. I always believe D Men age like fine wine, in their prime between 30-36 or so

 

[notbias]

He was injured.

And not sure what suggests he's better. If he is better, he certainly isn't twice as better. We're talking about Lyubushkin here... right?

We are talking about a #5 vs a potential #7, I am not sure he is twice as good, but I think he's better.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Uncharacteristically decent signing.

 

[sxvnert]

Much better signing than Lily at half the price.

 

[SprDaVE]

We are talking about a #5 vs a potential #7, I am not sure he is twice as good, but I think he's better.

I mean they gave over 3M to Bush and Leafs got him at 1.5M.

He played 18 minutes a night for one of the best Western teams last season, and he played over 19 minutes the season before. He also played on their top PK pair with Lindell with over 3 minutes PK TOI/G. Not sure what makes you think he's a #7 in quality. I'll let you tell me why you think Lyubushkin is so much better.

 

[OVO16]

Dude played 18 minutes a night for the Stars last season before getting hurt lol

He also somehow managed to lead the team in hits even though he didnt play the 2nd half of the season

Berube gonna love this guy

 

[Nineteen67]

Move off Timmins and we have like 2.05 million in cap space

They’re now over by 700K. Timmins would make them compliment.

 

[notbias]

I mean they gave over 3M to Bush and Leafs got him at 1.5M He played 18 minutes a night for one of the best Western teams last season, and he played over 19 minutes the season before. He also played on their top PK pair with Lindell with over 3 minutes PK TOI/G. Not sure what makes you think he's a #7 in quality.

Not saying I wanted to sign Lub at the cap hit over him, just that Lub is an upgrade, even if it isn't huge.

That's all.

I think he is a #7 ideally because he is a limited player.

 

[keonsbitterness]

I like this. We tried to sign him last time he was a free agent.