Maple Leafs Debut of Jani Hakanpaa is Finally Set

He's back. For the first time, that is. The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially activated their long-anticipated huge presence for the blueline, Jani Hakanpaa.

Maple Leafs activate Jani Hakanpaa ahead of tonight’s game in Washington. He hasn’t played an NHL game since March 16.
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) November 13, 2024

As noted by Luke Fox, Hakanpaa will return to NHL action for the first time since March 16th, when he suffered a knee injury while a member of the Dallas Stars that some observers felt was so serious it could even end his career.

But after a summer of free agent contract haggling, rehab, an LTIR stint and then a conditioning assignment to the AHL, the hulking D-man is finally ready to don the blue & white.

If his knee can hold out to allow him to remain a consistent part of the blueline, he'll provide the Leafs with size (6'7"), physicality (196 hits last year, 200+ the years prior), and defensive zone presence (123 blocked shots).