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Finland’s Jani Hakanpaa pulls out of 4 Nations Face-Off due to injury
Team Finland’s blue line just took another hit.
The 32-year-old was set to represent Finland in less than two weeks at the inaugural best-on-best event but nagging knee problems have taken that opportunity away.
Hakanpaa has missed all but two games this season because of his injury and on Friday head coach Craig Berube made it clear that a return for the D-man in the coming days was already less than likely.
“Really, I don’t have a timeline for him. I really, I don’t,” Berube said when asked about Hakanpaa’s status, who hasn’t played since Nov. 16.
The 6-foot-6 defenceman signed with the Maple Leafs in September on a one-year, $1.47 million deal after three seasons with the Dallas Stars. He was originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round of the 2010 Entry Draft. The Ducks traded Hakanpaa mid-way through his sophomore season and then he signed with Dallas that summer.
Hakanpaa has 45 points through 290 NHL games (15 goals, 30 assists).
His absence will be felt by Finland who are already down Hakanpaa’s former Stars’ teammate Miro Heiskanen. The defenceman is currently week-to-week with a lower-body injury due to an on-ice collision against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. He then pulled out from the tournament two days later.
The 4 Nations tournament runs Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston. It’s the first international best-on-best tournament in nearly a decade.
Finnish defenseman Jani Hakanpaa has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament due to injury. Hakanpaa, who plays for the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL, was set to represent Finland in the international competition but will now have to sit out.
The 29-year-old defenseman has been a key player for the Ducks this season, averaging over 18 minutes of ice time per game. His absence will surely be felt by the Finnish national team, as they look to compete against other top hockey nations in the tournament.
Hakanpaa’s injury is a blow to both his club team and his country, but hopefully, he will be able to recover quickly and get back on the ice soon. In the meantime, Finland will have to look to other players to step up and fill the void left by his absence in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Finland, Jani Hakanpaa, 4 Nations Face-Off, injury, hockey, international tournament, Finland national team, sports news
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