Maple Leafs Jani Hakanpaa Describes Knee Injury "Rollercoaster" This Summer

For Jani Hakanpaa to describe the issues with his knee over the offseason, and the on-again, off-again, on-again contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a "rollercoaster" is, frankly, an understatement.

The towering 6'7" defenseman met the media for the first time as the newest member of the Leafs' blueline, and he opened up about his turbulent summer.

Saying he was "itching" to get back on the ice and playing once again, Hakanpaa said he always trusted in his recovery process, despite the ominous reports that his career could be in jeopardy due to the knee injury, and the 2+ month holdup in signing his contract.

In my mind, it's been clear that I'm going to get back. And the team I had around me back home in Finland had the same thoughts. I think that was the biggest key — to have people around me that that trusted as well.
It's a little bit of a rollercoaster almost. You know, there's good days, bad days, but I think that underlying trust of 'it's going to happen' eventually has always been there.

As for his free agency, he said his 'gut' helped him decide on the Leafs, despite other teams' interest as well.

"You have some teams (interested), and then you just kind of sit there and you just have that weird feeling inside of you," Hakanpää said. "It's kind of hard to describe. It's just a good feeling about it. You're just like, 'OK, this is going to be the one'. And then you just got to trust your gut."

He eventually signed a one-year deal worth $1.47 million, as opposed to the two-year, $1.5 million AAV that was reported at the time of the alleged original agreement back on July 1st.

The massive Finnish right-shot D, wherever he slots into the depth chart on the Leafs' blueline, will bring size and toughness that the Buds (or any defense corps) can certainly use.

Last season, in 64 games with Dallas, the five-year veteran handed out 196 punishing hits with his 225-pound frame, and blocked 123 shots.