GOOD NEWS: At Last Top Defenseman Affirms Having Set To Uplift The Leafs…
The Toronto Maple Leafs famously signed Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson when free-agency opened this year. One signing that went somewhat under the radar was the Toronto Maple Leafs’ acquisition of defenseman Jani Hakanpaa. This signing went unnoticed by many casual fans, partly because Hakanpaa is not a household name and partly because he is currently injured and might not play.
The Concerns
You’d think Brad Treliving would be more cautious about signing former Dallas Stars defensemen with career-threatening injuries, but this seems to be a recurring mistake: paying over the league minimum for a replacement player just because he’s big.
Who Is Jani Hakanpaa?
Hakanpaa is 32, right-handed, and stands at an imposing 6’7″. He was drafted in 2010, bounced around European leagues and the AHL, and didn’t play a full NHL season until the shortened 2020 season with the Ducks. He then moved to the Stars and became an integral part of their team, appearing in almost every game for three seasons until injury struck, affecting his knees severely.
The Role in Toronto
If healthy, Hakanpaa will replace Simon Benoit, which is puzzling since they both have similar issues, but Benoit is younger and arguably more mobile. Hakanpaa’s size could potentially help the Leafs, providing a physical presence on the ice. However, considering Dallas had strong defensemen like Miro Hieskanen and Chris Tanev, it’s doubtful Hakanpaa faced the toughest assignments, and his numbers reflect that.
The Stats
Never in his career has his team had possession of the puck more than the opposition when he’s on the ice. He tends to get hemmed in his own zone and outshot. His teams almost always lose their minutes when he’s playing, and only once in his career did his team barely break even in expected goals percentage.
The Fit with the Leafs
The Leafs need to move the puck and play a high-paced game. Hakanpaa’s style doesn’t align with this strategy, as he is a big, lumbering player who struggles to get the puck out of his own end.
The Contract
The most frustrating part of this deal is the contract. It’s a two-year deal with a cap hit above the league minimum for a player whose career is in jeopardy due to injury. It’s unclear who the Leafs were bidding against, and it’s perplexing to see the team allocate resources this way.
Comparisons to Other Signings
The Leafs have made a series of questionable signings under Brad Treliving. Max Domi was signed for four years after a series of one-year deals, Ryan Reaves was given a three-year contract at age 37, and David Kampf received a similar deal. These moves make former GM Kyle Dubas look like a master of contract negotiations.
Conclusion
In summary, the signing of Jani Hakanpaa appears to be a questionable decision by the Leafs. It’s a risky move for a player with significant injury concerns and underwhelming statistics. This signing, much like others under Treliving, seems to be a misguided attempt to add physicality at the expense of more impactful players.
Mar 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (2) skates off the ice after the Stars give up a sixth goal to the New Jersey Devils during the game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (2) skates off the ice after the Stars give up a sixth goal to the New Jersey Devils during the game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports/
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