The process to sign Jani Hakanpaa took longer than expected but eventually the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to agree to a one-year contract worth $1.47 million with the veteran defenceman.
General manager Brad Treliving said the team did its due diligence to ensure that his recovery from his knee injury was going in the right direction.
“Obviously, there was a bit of a delay on Jani. We had Jani in town here earlier in the summer for a bit of time. Our performance staff went out there two or three times. It was him going through his rehab,” Treliving told reporters at Leafs development camp. “We’re obviously to a point where he and us feel confident. And we’ll see how it goes.”
Initially, it was reported that the team agreed to a two-year deal on the opening day of free agency. Treliving spoke later that day as if Hakanpaa was a member of the team, but no official announcement was made.
There were questions about the blueliner’s health after he missed the final 13 games of the Dallas Stars’ regular season and the entire playoff run with a knee injury. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to treat the injury.
While the team was comfortable signing Hakanpaa to a deal, Treliving says the team will continue to work with the veteran now that he is signed.
“There’s certainly always risk with any person coming off an injury, but he’s put in a lot of work really since, I think he had surgery,” Treliving said. “He had a scope on his knee, I think, back in March. (He) went through sort of healing and then rehab, but he’s doing well. And now we’ll get our hands on him on an everyday basis and kind of see where it goes.”
Hakanpaa isn’t the only player whom the team had to go through an extensive process before putting pen to paper on an agreement.
The team signed Max Pacioretty to a professional tryout agreement, which could lead to a contract for the season if the veteran forward makes it through camp.
“We brought Max in, it was probably a month ago now, maybe three weeks ago, for a couple days here where he was very open, obviously going through a medical exam, but he got on the ice for us,” Treliving said. “Just seeing where he was at, he feels that he’s had a couple of years here, two-and-a-half years where he hasn’t had an opportunity to train, right? It’s been rehabbing. And he came back last year and jumped in sort of halfway through the season.
“At the end of the year, he felt he wasn’t where he wanted to be physically and was able to have a full summer of training. And so we’ll see.”
The 35-year-old played on a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals last season after back-to-back Achilles tendon tears while a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. He put up four goals and 19 assists in 47 games.
Pacioretty is coming off multiple seasons hampered by injuries, a pair of Achilles tears limiting him to just 52 games over the past two seasons since leaving the Vegas Golden Knights.
Does the veteran have a clear shot at making the opening night roster? Treliving says it all depends on what new head coach Craig Berube sees from him in camp.
“Our expectation is he’s going to come in, he gives us more depth. All that stuff’s going to sort itself out at camp, right? I know we all get excited when we see guys out here,” Treliving said. “But to me, what we’re trying to do is make our roster as deep as possible. I think there’s going to be lots of people pushing for jobs. Where everybody fits and who they fit with, Craig (Berube) and the coaching staff will figure it out. I’m just trying to give them as many options as we possibly can. But we’re excited to see Max, get him up to speed and get through camp and hopefully, he can help us.”
