Maple Leafs' Jani Hakanpaa won't play for Team Finland at 4 Nations Face-Off

Team Finland will need to find another replacement on their back end, as Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jani Hakanpaa has officially been ruled out for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Jani Hakanpää has been ruled out of the 4 Nations Face-Off because of his ongoing injury issues.

Finland now needs two replacements on "D" with Miro Heiskanen already out.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 1, 2025

The towering Hakanpaa was named to Team Finland, despite dealing with a knee injury since last summer, and only appearing in two games so far this season for the Maple Leafs. Hakanpaa averaged 14:05 of ice-time in both contests, and recently Leafs' head coach Craig Berube admitted he didn't have a timeline for his return to the lineup.

Hakanpaa signed a one-year, $1.47 million deal with the Leafs last summer, a move that Leafs' GM Brad Treliving heard a lot of criticism about, considering Hakanpaa failed several medicals while talking contracts with other teams.

Look for the Leafs' GM to try and add another defenceman before the trade deadline March 7, with a focus on also adding another middle-six center to Toronto's lineup.

The 4 Nations Face-Off is set to begin on Feb.12 and will return through Feb.20 in between both Boston and Montreal. Finland will also be without Dallas Stars' blueliner Miro Heiskanen, and will need to name two replacements before Feb.9.