This summer, the Maple Leafs signed Jani Hakanpää after months of uncertainty over whether he would actually join the team due to concerns about his lingering knee issues. Despite the risks, they decided to go ahead, inking him to a one-year, $1.47M contract, hoping he can return to being the elite shutdown defenseman he’s been in recent years. However, Hakanpää has yet to join the main practice squad, instead working with the third group alongside Connor Dewar, who is rehabbing a shoulder injury, as both players condition themselves for a return.
Head coach Craig Berube recently gave Maple Leafs fans a highly positive update on Hakanpää’s status and whether the Finnish defenseman will soon rejoin the main roster.
Berube is optimistic that Hakanpää will quickly catch up with the team once he’s fully recovered, and he has strong faith in the Maple Leafs’ medical and training staff to get him back on track. GM Brad Treliving had a clear strategy when they signed Hakanpää, and it looks like that plan is now paying off. With Hakanpää being connected to the Maple Leafs since 2021, his eventual arrival in the blue and white feels like it was meant to be.
Standing at a towering 6’7″ and 222 pounds, Jani Hakanpää was drafted in the 4th round by the St. Louis Blues in 2010. He developed his game with their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, before returning to Finland to play for Oulun Kärpät in the SM-Liiga, Finland’s top professional league. Hakanpää helped Kärpät secure a championship while anchoring the blue line, which eventually led to his signing with the Anaheim Ducks in 2019. During the pandemic-shortened 2020-2021 season, he ranked third in hits across the entire NHL. Following a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes for Haydn Fleury, Hakanpää entered free agency and joined the Dallas Stars, where he formed a formidable defensive pairing with fellow shutdown defender and current Maple Leaf, Chris Tanev.
Although not an offensive powerhouse, Hakanpää excels with his size, vision, and elite stick-checking abilities to neutralize opponents. His defensive metrics back up his reputation, consistently ranking him as one of the top defensemen in the league.
Some Maple Leafs fans believe that Hakanpää’s signing might be a sign that the 1967 curse could finally be nearing its end.All jokes aside, when healthy, Hakanpää is one of the most intimidating defensemen on the ice. He brings back memories of Zdeno Chara, who dominated the NHL for two decades. Like Chara, Hakanpää is a massive presence, even more imposing on skates. While he may not have Chara’s offensive skill, he can still deliver crushing hits, drop the gloves, and unleash powerful shots.
If Hakanpää can regain full health and return to his top-tier defensive play, he could be a crucial factor in the Maple Leafs’ push for the Stanley Cup. So far, everything seems promising.