According to NHL analyst Nick Alberga of LeafsNation, the Toronto Maple Leafs should walk away from Jani Hakanpaa because the deal has yet to become official.
Several insiders stated on July 1 that the Maple Leafs had signed Hakanpaa to a two-year agreement for $3 million. It was an intriguing signing, but according to Toronto Sun reporter Steve Simmons, Hakanpaa’s knee condition is really serious, and people inside the NHL have told him he will not play another game in the league.
Following Simmons’ reports, several insiders confirmed that Hakanpaa’s knee injury is significant, and Alberga believes Toronto should walk away from the contract before it becomes official.
“Any way you slice it, if the Leafs learned anything from the John Klingberg issue last season, it may be in their best interests to walk away completely before anything is actually signed. On paper, Hakanpaa might be a significant addition to a team aiming to strengthen its blue line. However, in this case, the risk may outweigh the benefit,” Alberga stated.
“If there are any misgivings, they should back off immediately, regardless of what the team doctors advise. There is no need to award a multi-year contract to someone who has serious health issues. Not for anything, but at least Klingberg signed a one-year deal. “They found a way to send him off to Robidas Island,” Alberga said.
Alberga believes Dallas’ decision to allow Hakanpaa go free and not re-sign him should have raised red flags in the Maple Leafs’ front office.
Hakanpaa last played on March 16 due to a knee injury. Last season, he appeared in 64 games, scoring two goals and ten assists for 12 points.
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