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

[Hellcat]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807863368310501512

3rd D today.

Smart signing.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Similarly big and strong but throws his body way more than Zadorov.

And from the sound of things, skates far slower.

 

[Buds17]

Lilly, Robertson, Jarnkrok and Kampf are all in play.

Liljegren's a tough one to move because the blueline doesn't have a lot of youth on it (particularly with offensive upside). Robertson may have unfortunately written his ticket out of town due to the trade request. Moving a Kampf or Jarnkrok isn't going to accomplish all that much other than to potentially create a bit of cap space. Of course, Treliving obviously is in on signing Jeff Skinner.

 

[diceman934]

Good signing. Hits and blocks shots. Boxes out real well.

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

Rielly Tanev
OEL Hakanpaa
McCabe Liljegren/Benoit

 

[Nineteen67]

Good enough signing. I wonder what trades/ moves they’ll make to make it all fit.

 

[Albatros]

And from the sound of things, skates far slower.

Yes, he's limited. But the good thing is that he understands it and can make the most of what he's got, even in offense. So less talented but more efficient, or a great role player with no upside.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

Are there any stats that show Lyubushkin is good and worth over 3M?

As a comparison. Hakanpaa is a much better PKer (not even close), a better goal scorer (not saying much) and he also see's better quality opponents but bot have similar 5 on 5 defense efficiency. Lyubushkin is a better passer and a faster skater (my own scout eyes).

100% this is a guy I wanted when he was a UFA couple year ago - loved him then, love him now.

Finally, a Treliving move I can wholeheartedly appreciate and get behind. Fantastic value for money.

I take this guy over Boosh every day and twice on Sunday; forget the size difference, Hack is a heavy 225 and handles the puck better than Boosh. Then you're telling me he's 1 year less term and half the cap hit? Sign me right up.

I dislike every single thing Tree has done so far this offseason so I'm pleasantly surprised at this business.

 

[Anthrax442]

Hakanpaa Matata

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Hakanpaa Matata

What a wondeful phrase!

 

[Maple Leaf]

Hakanpaa Matata

I would do a HAHA emoji if I wasn't banned [REDACTED]

 

[Skullz]

I like it. Fills needs in terms of handedness, size, and PK ability. A lot less money than Lyub too. Good deal.

 

[crump]

Kind of always had my eye on this guy. pair him with Cade Weber for fun for a few games.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Do you really trust Brad Treliving to A: Make a smart trade involving Marner that doesn't involve crippling assets coming back and B: Use that added cap space wisely? I sure as hell don't. I'd rather the Leafs hang on to Marner so Treliving can't acquire some James Neal/Milan Lucic types.

I don't even offer Marner the minimum.

Some players will remain one dimensional and don't have the DNA to win when its time to play in the trenches.

 

[FrozenJagrt]

I don't even offer Marner the minimum.

Some players will remain one dimensional and don't have the DNA to win when its time to play in the trenches.

Okay, fine. And what about the more important part? Do you trust a man who has a history of making terrible decisions to not make terrible decisions with the cap space? Or do you think he's going to throw that money at people like Reaves, Tanev, Klingberg and OEL?

 

[Ports]

Liljegren's a tough one to move because the blueline doesn't have a lot of youth on it (particularly with offensive upside). Robertson may have unfortunately written his ticket out of town due to the trade request. Moving a Kampf or Jarnkrok isn't going to accomplish all that much other than to potentially create a bit of cap space. Of course, Treliving obviously is in on signing Jeff Skinner.

They need the cap space so moving on from Jarnkrok and Kampf gives them the space to improve their bottom six which have been lacking in the playoffs and Lilly’s a $3M #7 on a Berube team. They’re in a four year window to win so youth isn’t the priority on the backend.

 

[ruaware41]

100% this is a guy I wanted when he was a UFA couple year ago - loved him then, love him now.

Finally, a Treliving move I can wholeheartedly appreciate and get behind. Fantastic value for money.

I take this guy over Boosh every day and twice on Sunday; forget the size difference, Hack is a heavy 225 and handles the puck better than Boosh. Then you're telling me he's 1 year less term and half the cap hit? Sign me right up.

I dislike every single thing Tree has done so far this offseason so I'm pleasantly surprised at this business.

nailed it. Not going to lie I haven't watched him much but 6'7 222lbs seems quite skinny. Wonder if the NHL.com stats are outdated. Interested to see how he fits in.

 

[Duffman955]

Good signing.

Play on the 3rd pair with OEL and heavy PK usage

 

[Its not your fault]

Really curious to see what other moves Tre has up his sleeve regarding the blueline.


I like this signing.

Trouba? Robertson starting point?

 

[Morgs]

This is a really good signing. He's past his prime, but if he's playing bottom pair minutes 40-60 games this season I think we're getting excellent value.

 

[Leaf Fans]

The stars chose boosh so he's probably left without an offer.

Or the he turned them down and they went to Boosh.

 

[Smif]

Wow, steal.

 

[nuck]

I really like this signing after they let the other big boys walk. It seemed like they had found something that worked and then they pivoted away. The money is really good for what I think he brings. More TOI the last two years than Boosh and more last season than Edmundson on a much stronger team. He was around 19:00 in Dallas so should be able to be up in the top 4 for games where Lilly is not the best fit. And as other have pointed out he logged big PK minutes on a better PK unit than the Leafs had. I am almost thinking "whats the catch?" but at $1.5M I don't care

 

[Stephen]

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

They seem like a similar level of player too and Hakanpaa comes in so much cheaper.

I think Dubas actually tried to sign this guy but the Stars scooped him in 2021. He also came from the Blues system originally but doesn't look like he had crossed paths with Berube.

 

[Stephen]

Tanev is going to miss games, Rielly has been missing games last few seasons, Liljegren is unproven. Good chance we will need 9 dmen again this year so having 7 dmen is a good thing

For me, Liljegren, Robertson and the 2025 second round pick is basically a place holder upgrade waiting to happen. So I could see a decent puck mover brought in to really fix the 6 man unit at some point with Hakanpaa in the 6-7th defense role.

With big bodies like Tanev, Hakanpaa, Benoit, OEL I could also see a world where a Niemela coming up would be well protected and play a puck moving role on a rookie audition.