After a summer filled with uncertainty about the condition of his right knee, the Maple Leafs have officially signed defenseman Jani Hakanpaa to a new contract.
After missing the end of the 2023-24 season with the Dallas Stars, Jani Hakanpaa was reportedly set to join the Toronto Maple Leafs on the first day of free agency in July. However, the contract was never officially announced, nor did it appear on the team’s salary cap records.
There had been speculation that Jani Hakanpaa’s lingering knee issues could potentially end his career, but a few weeks ago, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving indicated that the team was working through the situation.
On Wednesday, during the Maple Leafs’ rookie camp, the team announced that Hakanpaa had signed a one-year contract worth $1.47 million USD, matching the previously reported July 1 figure. On that day, Treliving had highlighted the 32-year-old Finnish defenseman as a valuable addition, citing his nearly 300 NHL games of experience and his 6-foot-7 frame, which makes him effective on the penalty kill.
Originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Draft, Hakanpaa has also played for the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes before spending the last three seasons with the Dallas Stars. During the 2023-24 season, he recorded 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 64 games. Over his 288-game NHL career, the native of Kirkkonummi, Finland, has amassed 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) and 173 penalty minutes.
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