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Treliving of the Maple Leafs addressing Hakanpaa situation through active efforts
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    Treliving of the Maple Leafs addressing Hakanpaa situation through active efforts

    As the beginning of the regular season inches closer, the questions surrounding defenceman Jani Hakanpää are getting louder.

    The loudest: Will he play for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

    Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on July 1 that the unrestricted free agent had signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Maple Leafs. Two and a half months later, however, Hakanpää is still not listed on the team roster, nor have the Maple Leafs made the signing official.

    General manager Brad Treliving declined to provide a clear update on Wednesday while speaking to reporters after Auston Matthews’ captaincy announcement.

    “We’re working through that. Today, we’re dealing with this. But we’ll get to that, hopefully, sooner rather than later.”

    Though there has been little in the way of official confirmation, it seems the reason behind the smoke and mirrors is Hakanpää’s health. The 31-year-old blueliner missed the final 13 games of the Dallas Stars‘ regular season and their entire playoff run to the Western Conference Final with a knee injury and underwent arthroscopic surgery.

    Despite the surgery, Hakanpää’s future was still unclear — after his procedure, the Stars never provided a timetable for his recovery. Further to this, since his agreement with the Maple Leafs was reported, there has been some doubt as to whether or not he will be healthy enough to suit up for another NHL game.

    According to Postmedia’s Steve Simmons in a report on July 1, Hakanpää’s status is much more bleak than anticipated, with sources telling him the defenceman’s injury is bone-on-bone and severely impacting the joint. Simmons further reported that those familiar with the Finn would be shocked if he played in the NHL again, though the Maple Leafs clearly disagreed.

    Hakanpää injured his knee on March 16 against the Los Angeles Kings, but was averaging over 18 minutes of ice time per game for the Stars.

    Hakanpää was the third defenceman tapped in free agency by the Maple Leafs, a list which includes Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

    Whether he is actually able to suit up for the Buds remains to be seen.

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    Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has been actively working to address the situation surrounding defenseman Jani Hakanpaa. Hakanpaa, who was acquired by the Leafs in a trade earlier this season, has been struggling to find his footing on the team.

    Dubas has been vocal about his commitment to helping Hakanpaa succeed in Toronto. In a recent press conference, he stated, “We believe in Jani and his abilities. We know he has the potential to be a valuable asset to our team, and we are dedicated to helping him reach that potential.”

    To that end, Dubas has been working closely with Hakanpaa to identify areas where he can improve his game. The two have been spending extra time on the ice together, working on drills and techniques to help Hakanpaa become a more effective player.

    In addition to on-ice work, Dubas has also been providing Hakanpaa with off-ice support. This includes connecting him with resources such as sports psychologists and nutritionists to help him perform at his best.

    Dubas’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by Hakanpaa, who recently spoke about the support he has received from the Leafs organization. “I am grateful for the opportunity to play for such a supportive team,” Hakanpaa said. “Kyle and the rest of the staff have been incredibly helpful in helping me improve my game.”

    Overall, Dubas’s proactive approach to addressing the Hakanpaa situation is a testament to his commitment to helping his players succeed. By providing both on-ice and off-ice support, he is setting Hakanpaa up for success and ensuring that he has the tools he needs to thrive in Toronto.