Today it has been made official in a move that was actually announced on free agency day of this summer. Back on July 1st, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that defenceman Jani Hakanpaa signs a two-year deal, worth $3M. However, today the news changed slightly, as it is just a one-year deal that he signs, worth just under that previously announced total average annual value. In other news today, general manager Brad Treliving signed veteran forward, Max Pacioretty to a professional tryout contract. Furthermore, this is just one day after announcing the signing of youngster Nicholas Robertson to a one-year, $875K extension.
Jani Hakanpaa signs with TOR for 1x$1.47M
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 11, 2024
Jani Hakanpaa Officially Signs With the Toronto Maple Leafs
When the Leafs signed Hakanpaa in July, it was apparently pending a physical. Sometime since he’s been out of action going back to late in the regular season, Hakanpaa underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. Now that Hakanpaa cleared his physical, he is now able to officially join the Leafs blueline.
Hakanpaa has developed into as solid of a fourth or fifth guy on your backend as you will find in the league. His credentials from playing with the Dallas Stars on competitive teams is enough to prove that fact. In addition, people that watched the NHL playoffs closely, got to witness how dependable and tough to play against Hakanpaa has been for the Stars going back a couple years now. He has been a very consistent penalty killer over the past three seasons. Last year he tallied 12 points in 64 regular season games, over 18:39 minutes a game.
Along with the addition of Hakanpaa today, the Leafs also added another veteran in Pacioretty. Albeit only on a PTO, but still it’s another reliable presence in the locker room and on the ice, assuming he gets a shot. This was already just a day after signing Robertson to a value deal with the club. GM Treliving has had a busy offseason finetuning his roster. Leaf fans are getting excited.
Things Are Coming Together Excellently in Toronto
Leaf fans wonder what is next. What could possibly be next after all they have done already. They also added Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the backend. Interestingly enough, they’ve actually added three 2024 Stanley Cup champs. They also added Steven Lorentz, as well as Anthony Stolarz. This includes re-signing a two-time cup champ in Matt Murray to play third-stringer. The best thing about this for Treliving is that he has done this very cost-efficiently. The Leafs are making all the right moves to ensure depth is undeniable for the roster. This is especially important when the playoffs roll around in the spring of 2025. Will the Leafs have enough to get them over the hump this year? Will they be rejuvenated with the naming of the league goal-scoring reigning king Auston Matthews captain? Their defence does seem like one with few weaknesses as a whole. Their offensive attack is very refined with three players in Matthews along with William Nylander and Mitch Marner fighting for 100-point seasons. There is some question remaining in goal, but they definitely have lots of potential upside in net. Good things, no, great things, could be in store for the 416 in ’25.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
