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

[SprDaVE]

Have the Leafs themselves confirmed this anywhere? They haven't on twitter like all the other signings.

Not yet. Treliving did say there were more depth signing in the works, which might include this one (officially)

 

[Evilhomer]

If we're worried about Hakanpaa's injuries, wait until we review Tanev's lol.

Either it's manageable or the leafs staff think they can rehab it. We wouldn't spend millions without basic comprehensive health reviews

I feel like I read this last July about Klingberg....

Was this guy's last game actually March 16? I thought he played in the playoffs?

 

[Folignos Helmet]

OEL and Hakanpaa for same cap hit as Zadorov is tidy work.

I don’t see Zadorov as 3.5 million better then this guy and he slots properly as well.

 

[Hellcat]

I feel like I read this last July about Klingberg....

Was this guy's last game actually March 16? I thought he played in the playoffs?

He had a knee scope done that ended his season.

 

[crump]

From various sources:
“Hakanpaa's lower-body injury is a knee issue that required an arthroscopic procedure, Mike Heika of the Stars' official site reports Friday.

Hakanpaa didn't play past March 16 because of the injury. He had two goals, 12 points, 33 PIM, 196 hits and 123 blocks in 64 regular-season outings in 2023-24. Although there isn't a specific timetable for Hakanpaa's recovery, he's not expected to need further knee procedures.”

Jani Hakanpaa - NHL News & Rumors | FOX Sports

Get the latest NHL news on Jani Hakanpaa. Stay up to date with NHL player news, rumors, updates, analysis, social feeds, and more at FOX Sports.

www.foxsports.com

 

[notbias]

Tre has turned a soft ice cream D into a pretty nasty back end

Last year NHL Hits Ranking

02) Benoit
07) McCabe
15) Hakanpää
68) OEL
78) Rielly

I suspect under The Chief's leadership he will command a more physical game.

OEL and Rielly, known as nasty hitters.

Benoit or Hakanpaa will be in the pressbox.

This D is not as "nasty" as people think...

I'm happy that he went the skill route more than signing or trading for terrible big D like he did last year.

 

[Fogelhund]

Arthroscopy is often very minor, and you usually recover quite quickly. I'm in my 50's, had it done on my meniscus in late March, and I'm at 100% already, have been for a while. A younger person probably 6-8 weeks max.

This is a good signing for the dollars.

 

[BertCorbeau]

OEL and Rielly, known as nasty hitters.

Benoit or Hakanpaa will be in the pressbox.

This D is not as "nasty" as people think...

I'm happy that he went the skill route more than signing or trading for terrible big D like he did last year.

It's a nice blend of puck movement and physicality. Particularly because a guy like OEL can distribute the puck, but he's also not going to get caved on the board and has strength.

IMO I am guessing Trev wanted to bring back either Edmunson or Boosh for this role but they priced themselves way out not he market, and Trev went with Hankanpaa as an alternative plan.

Perhaps one reason the deal is only $1.5 AAV is the concerns of the injury.

 

[DragoGrizzly]

I’m worried that a lot of Dallas fans wanted to get rid of him. I think Benoit is a much better player than him right now. So as a 7th d-man I think 1.5mill is a bit much.

 

[Dekes For Days]

This is very weird. You have to wonder if the Leafs did their due diligence here.

Yikes. This is terrifying to read.

 

[fahad203]

6'7 everyday I guess
Reminds me of Chris McCalister

Hope he can stay healthy. Otherwise Marlies bound

 

[DarkKnight]

Yikes. This is terrifying to read.

Now you know how we feel.

 

[Rob Brown]

OEL and Rielly, known as nasty hitters.

Benoit or Hakanpaa will be in the pressbox.

This D is not as "nasty" as people think...

I'm happy that he went the skill route more than signing or trading for terrible big D like he did last year.

He's clearly referring more to the top 3 guys and not OEL and Rielly, but even still, if there are a minimum of 192 d-men that played in the league last season (6x32, which is obviously under the actual amount), OEL and Rielly are still in the top half of hitters.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Now you know how we feel.

Yeah, I imagine everybody would be concerned about the player we just signed yesterday being reportedly at risk of never playing again.

 

[notbias]

He's clearly referring more to the top 3 guys and not OEL and Rielly, but even still, if there are a minimum of 192 d-men that played in the league last season (6x32, which is obviously under the actual amount), OEL and Rielly are still in the top half of hitters.

It is weird to include them in that case.

As I said, Benoit or Hakanpaa will likely be in the pressbox.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

I'd be more concerned if we needed Hak to play every day. If he's just a 7th dman , I understand the gamble he's 6'7". But sounds like we should not have any expectations of him. His knee is bone on bone.

 

[Stephen]

This is very weird. You have to wonder if the Leafs did their due diligence here.

Hopefully this is uninformed speculation but there is a middle ground here where the Leafs are signing this player to stash away on LTIR till he’s healthy.

 

[Fogelhund]

Only time will tell on this one. He was a player many people wanted previously and if he recovers, he'll be a good addition. Knees are a funny thing, and there is no doubt his play was affected by this last year, which is why he was shut down and had the surgery. If he can't play... LTIR it is... Hopefully they did their diligence.

 

[rumman]

You didn't answer the question.

Let Marner walk for nothing, fine. I don't care. In your estimation, is Brad Treliving the type of GM you would trust to use that cap space wisely?

After yesterday my answers an emphatic NO……..

 

[Gilmour1996]

Attachment above was spewed by Steve Simmons from the Sun. Full article:

SIMMONS: Maple Leafs signings — The good, the bad and the ugly

No matter who the Leafs sign, their success still comes back to Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander

torontosun.com

If I was a betting man I would bet that Steve is full of sh*t, as usual. Time will tell. I bet Hakanpaa starts opening night.

 

[OVO16]

You have to pass a Physical before signing a contract. If this was true, his contract would be re-scinded

 

[1specter]

This is very weird. You have to wonder if the Leafs did their due diligence here.

Simmons so I'm gonna take it with a grain of salt, but they did shit the bed on Klingberg last year who clearly wasn't healthy.

 

[rumman]

OEL and Hakanpaa for same cap hit as Zadorov is tidy work.

I don’t see Zadorov as 3.5 million better then this guy and he slots properly as well.

Wait till the playoffs, sadly I don’t think your take here will age well, but I hope you’re right……..

 

[rumman]

Only time will tell on this one. He was a player many people wanted previously and if he recovers, he'll be a good addition. Knees are a funny thing, and there is no doubt his play was affected by this last year, which is why he was shut down and had the surgery. If he can't play... LTIR it is... Hopefully they did their diligence.

Like they did on Klingberg?

Attachment above was spewed by Steve Simmons from the Sun. Full article:

SIMMONS: Maple Leafs signings — The good, the bad and the ugly

No matter who the Leafs sign, their success still comes back to Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander

torontosun.com

If I was a betting man I would bet that Steve is full of sh*t, as usual. Time will tell. I bet Hakanpaa starts opening night.

I get the Simmons hate, but generally articles are based on some perception of reality, if the guy’s knee wasn’t a issue it wouldn’t be a focal point of evaluating his signing imo……..

 

[notbias]

Hopefully this is uninformed speculation but there is a middle ground here where the Leafs are signing this player to stash away on LTIR till he’s healthy.

LTIR is a negative for the team, especially to stash a #6/7 there on purpose.

This is the first year in I don't know how long that we can accumulate cap in season.

I hope our doctors just did their due diligence and decided he is healthy or worth the risk.