Yesterday marked a pivotal moment for the Toronto Maple Leafs as Auston Matthews was officially named the 26th captain in team history.

This major announcement, coupled with John Tavares' media engagement, drew considerable attention. However, the spotlight shifted when General Manager Brad Treliving addressed the ongoing situation with defenseman Jani Hakanpaa.

In a recent interview, Treliving was asked about Hakanpaa, who signed a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs earlier this summer. The deal, valued at $1.5M AAV, has since been overshadowed by concerns over a knee injury that could jeopardize his NHL career. This uncertainty was further compounded when Hakanpaa was seen wearing a Dallas Stars jersey at a charity event, despite his new contract with Toronto.

Despite the buzz, Treliving remained tight-lipped on the specifics of Hakanpaa's condition, stating,

and emphasizing that the focus was on Matthews' captaincy announcement.

Nick Barden of The Hockey News shared the story on X:

Fans and analysts alike are speculating about Hakanpaa's potential impact on the Leafs' defensive lineup. The 32-year-old, who had a solid 2023-24 season with the Dallas Stars, contributing 12 points in 64 regular-season games, was expected to add significant depth to Toronto's blue line. His injury, however, raises questions about his availability for the upcoming season.

If Hakanpaa manages a full recovery, he could make a return in time for the playoffs, reminiscent of recoveries by players like Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights.

As the situation unfolds, the Maple Leafs' faithful will be keenly watching for any updates on Hakanpaa's health and his potential contribution to the team's playoff aspirations.

Source: Hockey Patrol
Leafs GM Brad Treliving finally comments on the Jani Hakanpaa situation