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Player signed by the Maple Leafs may never play again according to report
Yesterday the Toronto Maple Leafs just signed defenceman Jani Hakanpaa's to a new two-year contract, but a new report states his NHL career may be over already.
The Toronto Maple Leafs top move yesterday m when the NHL's free agent market opened was signing defenceman Chris Tanev to a six-year deal. Tanev, according to most, will give the Leafs exactly what they need on the backend in grit and leadership. Tanev wasn't the only defenceman signed by Toronto on July 1, but a new report states he may be the only one to actually play for the team.
Tanev's former Dallas Stars teammate Jani Hakanpaa also signed a $1.5 million, two-year contract with the Leafs. Hakanpaa missed every playoff game and the Stars' last 13 regular season games due to a knee injury sustained late in the previous season. His comeback is not scheduled, and according to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, there are worries that he might not be able to come back at all.
" A year ago, maybe two years ago, Hakanpaa would have factored rather nicely on the Leafs defence. He's a giant of a man at 6-foot-7, popular in the room, that great hockey vernacular, and a penalty-killer beyond compare. But one with a knee so bad that some think — although the Leafs disagree — that he may never play again.
The Leafs signed him to play but many doubt he will. It's said to be bone-on-bone with not much knee left. It's said to be trouble. Two years ago, Hakanpaa was playing 18 minutes for the Stars. He might have played his last NHL game in March. If he plays again, plays at all for the Leafs, it will shock those who were around in recent seasons."
The Leafs signed him to play but many doubt he will. It's said to be bone-on-bone with not much knee left. It's said to be trouble. Two years ago, Hakanpaa was playing 18 minutes for the Stars. He might have played his last NHL game in March. If he plays again, plays at all for the Leafs, it will shock those who were around in recent seasons."
If this is the case, it's a bad look for the Toronto Maple Leafs, their medical staff and GM Brad Treliving. Giving a player who likely won't play again a two-year contract is questionable, to say the least, especially a deal that is not fully buriable in the AHL. Simmons can certainly be hit or miss with his information, so it remains to be seen whether he's right on this one.
Source: Blade of Steel
Report says Toronto Maple Leafs' Jani Hakanpaa may never play again
Report says Toronto Maple Leafs' Jani Hakanpaa may never play again
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 2 | 83 ANSWERS Player signed by the Maple Leafs may never play again according to report What do you think of the report that Jani Hakanpaa of the Toronto Maple Leafs might never play again? | ||
| Terrible look for the Leafs | 27 | 32.5 % |
| Smells like BS | 41 | 49.4 % |
| I'm not sure | 15 | 18.1 % |
| List of polls | ||