Defenseman Jani Hakanpaa is rumored to have signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Hakanpaa reportedly signed a two-year contract worth $3 million, with an annual cap hit of $1.5 million last month.
Despite all the rumors, the Leafs are yet to confirm the signing. Hakanpaa’s recent appearance at a charity golf event in Oulu, Finland, sporting a Dallas Stars jersey has stirred up some uncertainty regarding his future with the Maple Leafs, especially after the rumored contract signing with the club.
Former NHL enforcer and co-host of the “Leafs Morning Take” podcast, Jay Rosehill, shared his perspective on the situation, saying:
“Yeah, I don’t know. I saw a big deal kind of be made of it, but to me, it doesn’t, doesn’t, doesn’t give anything. It doesn’t say anything doesn’t change. Doesn’t provide anything new to us because he’s not signed officially with the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Rosehill added:
“We know that as far as what’s going on with it up in the air, still, if you haven’t signed with Toronto Maple Leafs, then you’re not going to wear their jersey at a charity event. You’re going to wear your most recent team’s jersey, which makes sense.”
The podcaster also raised questions about Hakanpaa’s physical condition, saying:
“I don’t think it takes anything away or garners any extra information on that situation. I would be interested, however, to know if he was playing golf at the charity thing. You got a bunged-up knee so bad that you can’t even get the doctors to figure out if you could be cleared or not.”
He added that despite the speculations, no concrete new information has emerged regarding the 32-year-old’s situation with the Maple Leafs.
What happened to Jani Hakanpaa?
Hakanpaa hasn’t played since March after undergoing knee surgery. He got injured late in the season, missing the final 13 games of the regular season.
According to reports, he had a “bone on bone” knee condition, but the Leafs medical team cleared him for signing. His status remains uncertain after the Leafs’ rumored signing.
Jani Hakanpaa notched up 12 points through two goals and 10 assists in 64 games for the Stars last term. Hakanpaa was drafted No. 104 overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2010 NHL draft.