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‘I Don’t Have A Timeline’: Jani Hakanpaa Will Not Play For Finland At 4 Nations Sparking More Questions About His NHL Future
Jani Hakanpaa won’t suit up for Team Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off due to an injury, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Saturday.
Maple Leafs D Jani Hakanpää will not participate in the upcoming Four Nations Face-Off due to injury.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) February 1, 2025
The 32-year-old defenseman hasn’t appeared in a game since Nov. 16 against the Edmonton Oilers. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Dec. 5 that Hakanpaa had a procedure done “to help himself out a little bit.”
Hakanpaa has participated in a majority of Toronto’s practices within the last month, but when he could return to the lineup has been a mystery. The Maple Leafs have a four-game Western Canada (and Seattle) road trip before the 4 Nations tournament begins.
The defenseman, however, didn’t make the trip with the team to Edmonton earlier this week.
“He’s back in Toronto, skating and doing things there,” Berube said “Really, I don’t have a timeline for him. Really, I don’t.”
Hakanpaa has played two games for the Maple Leafs this season. He didn’t register a point while averaging 14:05 of ice time in that span. The two games he appeared in were three days apart.
The defenseman returned to practice after his second knee procedure on Jan. 13. He explained his excitement about possibly suiting up for Team Finland at the 4 Nations.
“Hopefully, we get there (ready to play) before the 4 Nations,” he said.
The Maple Leafs signed the veteran defenseman to a one-year, $1.47 million contract on Sept. 11, after a summer filled with questions about where he’d join the team. It was reported that Hakanpaa signed a longer deal earlier in the summer, however, that never came to fruition.
Finland will now need to search for two defensemen for their 4 Nations squad. Dallas Stars defender Miro Heiskanen will also be forced to miss the tournament after suffering a knee injury against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 29.
Hakanpaa was placed on the Maple Leafs’ long-term injured reserve list on Dec. 31.
The defenseman has 15 goals and 30 assists in 290 games, split between the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Stars, and Maple Leafs.
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The hockey world was buzzing with speculation after defenseman Jani Hakanpaa announced that he would not be joining Team Finland at the upcoming 4 Nations tournament. Hakanpaa, who has been a key player for the Finnish national team in the past, cited personal reasons for his decision to sit out the tournament.
Many fans and analysts were quick to jump to conclusions about Hakanpaa’s future in the NHL, with some speculating that he may be considering retirement or a return to Europe. However, Hakanpaa himself has been adamant that he does not have a timeline for his decision and is simply taking things one day at a time.
While it’s certainly possible that Hakanpaa’s absence from the 4 Nations tournament could be a sign of bigger changes to come, it’s important not to jump to conclusions. Hakanpaa has proven himself to be a reliable and talented player in the NHL, and whatever decision he ultimately makes about his future will surely be well-considered.
In the meantime, fans will have to wait and see what the future holds for Jani Hakanpaa. One thing is for certain: his absence from the 4 Nations tournament has only sparked more questions about his NHL future.
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Jani Hakanpaa, Finland, NHL, 4 Nations, hockey, sports, timeline, future, questions, player, international tournament, decision, speculation, career
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