Shocking news: Recently Signed Maple Leafs Defensemen ‘May Never Play Again’: Report

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Jani Hakanpaa to a two-year deal worth $1.5 million per season, but Toronto Sun reporter Steve Simmons claims he may never play an NHL game due to injury.

Hakanpaa dealt with a knee injury last season and his last game was on March 16. Although he ended the year injured, Toronto still gave Hakanpaa a multi-year deal in free agency, but Simmons reports that people around the NHL believe the 6-foot-7 defensemen’s knee injury is very serious and he won’t play another game in the league.

“It wasn’t that way with Hakanpaa, who signed with Toronto on Canada Day, as well. A year ago, maybe two years ago, Hakanpaa would have factored rather nicely on the Leafs defense. He’s a giant of a man at 6-foot-7, popular in the room, that great hockey vernacular, and a penalty-killer beyond compare. But one with a knee so bad that some think — although the Leafs disagree — that he may never play again,” Simmons wrote on July 1.

“The Leafs signed him to play but many doubt he will. It’s said to be bone-on-bone with not much knee left. It’s said to be trouble. Two years ago, Hakanpaa was playing 18 minutes for the Stars. He might have played his last NHL game in March. If he plays again, plays at all for the Leafs, it will shock those who were around in recent seasons,” Simmons added.

That is a major claim from Simmons. But Toronto believes the 32-year-old is healthy enough and will be able to play this upcoming season.

Hakanpaa was drafted 104th overall in the 2010 NHL draft by the St. Louis Blues. However, he did not make his NHL debut until the 2019-20 season while he was with the Anaheim Ducks. He has skated in 288 regular season games recording 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points.