Finland ruled out Jani Hakanpaa for the 4 Nations Face-Off, making management find replacements for two injured defensemen.
The Finnish Ice Hockey Federation confirmed Saturday that Hakanpää will not play in the NHL-run tournament later this month in Montreal and Boston. Hakanpää has appeared in only two games this season for Toronto and none since mid-November because of a lower-body injury.
Miro Heiskanen would have been Finland’s No. 1 defenseman, but he was injured on a hit by Mark Stone in Dallas’ game against Vegas on Tuesday night. The Stars listed Heiskanen as week to week with a lower-body injury, and Finland acknowledged he won’t be playing 4 Nations.
“He’s that type of player that any team in the world would love to have,” captain Aleksander Barkov said Thursday of Heiskanen. “He is a leader defensively and really good offensively, so he’s a huge part of Team Finland’s success. … All the best and try and get back as soon as possible and as healthy as possible. Health is the most important thing.”
General manager Jere Lehtinen, who built Finland’s roster that won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2022 when the NHL pulled out late because of pandemic-related scheduling reasons, said replacements would be named next week for Heiskanen and Hakanpää. There are only four eligible players to choose from for the two spots; only 11 Finnish defensemen have played in the league this season.
Buffalo’s Henri Jokiharju, Ottawa’s Nikolas Matinpalo, Winnipeg’s Ville Heinola and the New York Rangers‘ Urho Vaakanainen are the possible replacements. Jokiharju and Vaakanainen, who was traded from Anaheim to New York in December, have the most professional experience of the four.
Finland opens Feb. 13 against the U.S., plays rival Sweden on Feb. 15 and finishes round-robin play Feb. 17 against Canada.
Sweden also has a few injury situations to monitor. Vegas’ William Karlsson and Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin remain out, and Boston’s Hampus Lindholm is close to returning from his absence. Canada must still name a replacement for two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2014 Olympic gold medalist Alex Pietrangelo, who withdrew “to tend to an ailment and prepare for the remainder of the regular season,” the Golden Knights said.
Finland has announced that defenseman Jani Hakanpää will not be participating in the NHL’s upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. This decision comes as a surprise to many, as Hakanpää has been a key player for Finland in international competitions in the past.
While the exact reason for Hakanpää’s exclusion from the tournament has not been disclosed, it is likely that the Finnish coaching staff is looking to give other players an opportunity to showcase their skills on the international stage. Hakanpää’s absence will certainly be felt, as he is known for his physical play and defensive prowess.
Despite this setback, Finland remains a strong contender in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which will feature teams from Sweden, Russia, and the Czech Republic. With a talented roster of players, Finland will look to make a strong showing and compete for the championship title.
Fans of Finnish hockey will surely miss seeing Hakanpää on the ice, but they can still look forward to an exciting tournament and the chance to cheer on their national team as they face off against some of the top hockey nations in the world.
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