Toronto Maple Leafs sign 6-foot-6 big defenseman Jani Hakanpaa
NHL insider Darren Dreger is reporting today that the Toronto Maple Leafs are signing defenseman Jani Hakanpaa.
Dreger revealed this piece of news just moments ago. At this time, the team themselves have yet to confirm the news.
Hakanpaa is a huge, physical, bottom-pair defenseman with nearly 300 games of NHL experience. He does not provide a lot of offense, but he hits and blocks shots at a high rate.
He is not a factor in most fantasy leagues, but can be of service as a spot-starter if you need immediate hits/blocks.
The 6'6" Finn last played for the Dallas Stars where he put up 2 goals and 12 points in 64 regular season games. His absence in the playoffs was deeply felt by the team, as they were forced to play 5 defenseman for the majority of their playoff run.
He won't be a huge needle mover for the Leafs, but he does provide acceptable depth and can play a physical game that the Leafs have not been known for in recent years.
Elliotte Friedman is reporting that the deal is for two years and comes with a 1.5 million dollar cap hit. Be sure to stay tuned today as the Leafs and Brad Treliving continue to make moves.
Jani Hakanpaa missed 18 games this season and led his team in hits by 86. He's the injury that made Dallas rush to get Tanev as a replacement. PK specialist who hits everything and is a defensive zone start machine.
| POLL | ||
How many games do you think Jani Hakanpaa will play for the Toronto Maple Leafs next season? | ||
| <40 | 424 | 43.1 % |
| 40-50 | 231 | 23.5 % |
| 51-60 | 137 | 13.9 % |
| 61+ | 192 | 19.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
