Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jani Hakanpaa will be absent from the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament due to injury, as announced by Team Finland on Saturday.
Hakanpaa Misses Out on 4 Nations Tournament
Hakanpaa has been dealing with a lingering knee injury that dates back to his time with the Dallas Stars last season. His final game of the 2023-24 season took place on March 16 in a 4-1 victory against the Los Angeles Kings, after which he missed the remainder of the regular season and all playoff action. In the offseason, the Maple Leafs signed the veteran defenceman, initially agreeing to a two-year deal worth $1.5 million. However, after further evaluation of his injury, the contract was revised to a one-year term at the same annual average value.
It took some time for both Hakanpaa and head coach Craig Berube to feel comfortable enough for him to hit the ice. The 32-year-old played his first two games with the Leafs in mid-November after a conditioning stint with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. In his debut against the Washington Capitals, he logged 15:36 minutes of ice time, followed by 12:34 against the Edmonton Oilers. Since then, Hakanpaa has not seen any game action.
Finland Struggles with Defensive Losses
Team Finland’s defensive lineup has taken a hit, not only due to Hakanpaa’s absence but also with the loss of Miro Heiskanen earlier in the week. Heiskanen, the Dallas Stars defenceman, was injured in a collision with Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights and is expected to miss weeks, ultimately ruling him out of the tournament. Finland’s defensive options are limited, with only four other NHL-active defencemen available for selection: Henri Jokiharju, Urho Vaakanainen, Ville Heinola, and Nikolas Matinpalo.
Jokiharju, with the most NHL experience of the group, has played 383 career games. This season, the Buffalo Sabres defenceman has scored one goal and recorded three assists in 36 games.