The official 4 Nations Face-Off rosters dropped on Wednesday, with Sweden and Finland being the first to go public. In total, four members of the Toronto Maple Leafs made the tournament.
While both European squads are loaded with talent, one name stood out among the Finnish side. The inclusion of the Toronto Maple Leafs Jani Hakanpaa was surprising if not downright shocking.
Now, it’s not that Jani Hakanpaa is a bad player. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. He’s a very good defensive defenceman. He’s solid and built like a tree. His towering presence takes up a lot of real estate, making it quite challenging to get around him.
Plus, his physical play balances out the high-flying style of puck-moving blueliners. That’s why Leafs coach Craig Berube initially paired Hakanpaa with Morgan Rielly.
However, there’s one major issue with Hakanpaa. He’s injured and likely won’t play. As a matter of fact, his injury is so significant that he may never play again, at least at an NHL level.
So, why would Finland name Hakanpaa to its roster?
Perhaps it’s just a matter of wishful thinking. The Finnish management team believes that Hakanpaa could be in playing shape by next February. Unfortunately, that is highly unlikely. Hakanpaa is currently on the IR after playing just two games in the blue and white.
There’s no telling if the injury is a consequence of his arthroscopic knee surgery or if it’s something unrelated. All we know thus far it’s a lower-body injury that’s got Hakanpaa sidelined.
If Hakanpaa can’t go, the Finnish squad will have to name someone else to take his roster spot leading up to the tourney.
Jani Hakanpaa among a talented Finland squad
Hakanpaa is arguably the worst defenceman on the Finland roster. That’s not a knock on Hakanpaa. Instead, it speaks to the incredible depth the Finnish side boasts on its 4 Nations roster.
Dallas Stars blue liners Miko Heiskanen and Esa Lindell headline a deep group that includes the Florida Panthers' Niko Mikkola, the Utah Hockey Club’s Olli Maatta and Juuso Valimaki, and the Philadelphia Flyers Rasmus Ristolainen.
With that roster, Hakanpaa would likely be the seventh defenceman. However, given the 4 Nations uber-compressed schedule, there would be a fair chance that the Finnish coaching staff might swap out one or two players to give others a break.
Also, the Finnish blueline needs punch and snarl. That’s where Hakanpaa fits in. Now, it’s not like Hakanpaa is an enforcer like Arber Xhekaj. But Hakanpaa does balance the sheer amount of puck-moving rearguards with grit and toughness.
Sure, Hakanpaa moves with the grace and flair of a grizzly bear. But then again, that’s not what got Hakanpaa to the NHL.
If healthy, Jani Hakanpaa could terrorise the opposition with his size and strength. Hakanpaa could be among the most interesting players in the entire tournament. Here’s hoping he’s healthy enough to suit up for his native Finland and the Toronto Maple Leafs.