The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially signed defenseman Jani Hakanpää to a one-year contract worth $1.47 million for the 2024-25 season, bringing an end to a protracted negotiation.
The deal, finalized on Wednesday, follows a previous attempt by the Leafs to sign the 32-year-old to a two-year contract back in July, which fell through due to concerns about Hakanpää’s health.
Hakanpää sustained a lower-body injury towards the end of the 2023-24 season while playing for the Dallas Stars, which kept him out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite these injury concerns, the Maple Leafs pushed through with the signing after months of uncertainty. Hakanpää played 64 games last season, recording two goals and 12 points while averaging 18:38 minutes of ice time per game.
According to Chris Johnston of *The Athletic*, Hakanpää’s injury was a knee issue, though it’s unclear if he’s fully recovered. The defenseman has expressed confidence in his ability to play on the injured knee.
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Hakanpää joins a revamped Maple Leafs defensive lineup that already added Chris Tanev via trade and signed Oliver Ekman-Larsson in free agency. He will team up with key defensemen like Morgan Rielly and Timothy Liljegren in hopes of strengthening the Leafs’ blue line.
Standing at 6-foot-7, Hakanpää’s contract fits snugly under Toronto’s salary cap, which now leaves the team with just $30,333 in space, according to CapWages. This tight cap situation complicates the expected signing of winger Max Pacioretty, who is currently on a professional tryout agreement with the team. Leafs general manager Brad Treliving may need to free up salary space to fit Pacioretty onto the roster.
Over his six NHL seasons, Hakanpää has played in 288 games, collecting 15 goals and 30 assists. His career has included stints with the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes, in addition to the Stars. He also has 33 playoff appearances to his name.
