Injuries Prevent Maple Leafs From Signing Free Agents.

Jani Hakanpaa has not yet formally signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency, despite rumors to the contrary.
In order to start free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs added a number of significant players, including goaltender Anthony Stolarz and defensemen Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. After almost two months, one of their rumored acquisitions has not yet signed an official contract.

Defenseman Jani Hakanpaa, who spent the past three seasons with the Dallas Stars, reportedly signed a two-year, $3 million deal ($1.5 million AAV) with Toronto on July 1. Just a few days later, though, reports emerged that there were serious concerns about a knee injury he suffered late last season. Stars general manager Jim Nill said that Hakanpaa had undergone an arthroscopic knee procedure, but he wasn’t expected to need any additional procedures.

The fact that it’s been so long makes the prospect of Hakanpaa actually playing for the Leafs look less and less likely. TSN’s Chris Johnston recently broke down the situation on TSN Radio 1050’s “First Up.” “He didn’t actually sign. And where the confusion comes in is that the Leafs obviously had an intent to sign him on July 1. When Brad Treliving was speaking to reporters he talked about his excitement to add Jani Hakanpaa. And to the best of my knowledge, the reason it hasn’t happened is the concern about an injury he had to end last season,” Johnston said. “His knee is basically bone on bone at this point. And you’ve got a player who thinks he can play, but there are maybe some medical opinions that are casting doubt on that. And we’ll just have to see if they ultimately do sign him.

The length of time it’s lasted probably doesn’t portend positive or hopeful developments. You know, a few weeks back when they named Auston Matthews captain, [general manager] Brad Treliving told reporters he felt the situation would be settled very quickly. However, the longer it goes on without a contract, the less likely it seems that he will get one. The best I can say at this point is that the writing doesn’t seem very encouraging, but I’m not 100% sure it will go that way.
The 32-year-old Hakanpaa last played on March 16 at home against the Los Angeles Kings, which the Stars won 4-1. Despite playing in 64 games during the regular season and finishing with 12 points (two goals, ten assists), he was absent during Dallas’s run to the Western Conference Final.

The St. Louis Blues selected the Finnish defenseman in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Draft, but he didn’t play in the NHL until the 2019–2020 season, when he was signed by the Anaheim Ducks. Hakanpaa has played in 288 games in his career and has 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in little over 18 minutes per game on the ice.

Hopefully Hakanpaa is able to come back sooner rather than later, but based on the latest updates, it doesn’t sound like health is on his side.