Craig Berube shares major health update for latest Toronto Maple Leafs free agent signing

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube discussed Jani Hakanpaa today as the newest Leafs defenseman appears to be ready for the start of the season.

Hakanpaa has been in a weird grey area since July after it was reported that he agreed to a two-year contract with the Leafs. Since then, he has undergone a lengthy waiting period as the team wanted to be absolutely sure his current knee injury won't keep him off the ice.

The veteran Blueliner missed the entirety of the playoffs last season with the injury and at times there was speculation that it could be career-ending. Luckily, that no longer appears to be the case. Craig Berube commented on his status today during training camp revealing that he is 'close' to returning to full-time action on the ice.

Hakanpaa also talked about how excited he is to join the Leafs organization. He mentioned the history behind the franchise as well as the current team, which he described as, 'a really great group of guys.' It would seem then, that he is just excited to be playing hockey again and should fit in well on a revamped Maple Leafs blueline.

The team's defense was a major limiting factor in the team's success last year, so hopefully Hakanpaa can be part of the solution there. That being said, injuries were key for Toronto, especially on the blueline last season. With Hakanpaa's recent injury history, that could be cause for concern. We will just have to hope that the team has done their dull diligence with this signing.

To be fair, it appears as though they have, only now announcing his signing after initially agreeing to terms with him in July. The fact that he only got a one-year deal instead of the original two-year contract does signal that the team is being cautious with him though. Perhaps if he remains healthy, they will give him another one-year deal for the 2025-26 season.

Source: MapleLeafsDaily
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube Shares Some Exciting Jani Hakanpaa News

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