Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 Free Agency Targets Miss The Mark, So Far
By Gordon Munro
Jani Hakanpaa, RHD
Contract: Two-years, $1.5 million AAV
Hakanpaa is 6-7 and 222lbs and plays how you’d expect.
He is a physical shutdown defender who specializes on the penalty-kill. His two-year $1.5 million AAV deal is not costly and he should be able to provide sound defensive play in a bottom pair role.
He will not be looked upon to provide much offensive support but he does possess a powerful shot from the point which could help the Leafs score more “greasy goals” as has been a priority.
All-in-all Hakanpaa’s contract is about as inoffensive as you can get.
The term is fairly short and the AAV is not too high given what he can provide. As long as the Leafs deploy him responsibly, there is no reason to worry about his game.
He also comes in much lower than Joel Edmunson ($3.85M AAV) or Ilya Lyubushkin ($3.25M AAV).
Like Tanev, there are some injury concerns for the defender.
Last offseason, he was rumored to be undergoing knee surgery but ultimately did not go under the knife.
This season, he was sidelined in mid-march and never suited up again for the rest of the year and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery recently. This has caused some speculation that the deal may be pending a physical because the Leafs have yet to officially announce the signing.