Deal between Jani Hakanpaa and the Toronto Maple Leafs appears to have collapsed

On July 1, reports indicated that the Toronto Maple Leafs had signed Jani Hakanpaa to a two-year contract. Fans were thrilled by the prospect of his playing style enhancing the lineup.

However, a few days later, Steve Simmons reported that Hakanpaa might be struggling with a severe knee injury that could jeopardize his career.

Despite the speculation, no NHL insider has commented on the situation, and the organization has not issued a formal press release regarding the signing.

This has led to confusion about whether Hakanpaa will actually join the Maple Leafs this season. If he doesn't, it could provide the team with more cap space than anticipated.

Today, a photo surfaced showing Hakanpaa wearing a Dallas Stars jersey while taking a picture with a child at an event.

This has puzzled Maple Leafs fans, who are questioning why he would be wearing a jersey from a former team if he is not currently part of their organization.

Could this indicate that the deal between the Maple Leafs and Hakanpaa has fallen through, prompting the team to seek alternatives to fill his spot?

According to Nick Barden of The Hockey News, the event was a Finnish charity golf tournament in Oulu, Finland. Unfortunately, there has been no official word from those in the know, leaving the NHL community to speculate about the situation between Hakanpaa and the Maple Leafs.

David Alter of The Hockey News has reached out to Hakanpaa's representatives for clarification on the contract status but has yet to receive a response, further complicating the matter.

Source: Hockey Patrol
Jani Hakanpaa and the Toronto Maple Leafs' deal looks to have fallen through

Credit: Leafsnationnews on X
Leafsnationnews