Maple Leafs’ Jani Hakanpaa will not play for Finland in 4 Nations Face-Off

The 32-year-old did not join the Maple Leafs for their road trip and was skating back in Toronto. Hakanpaa has been skating during practices and morning skates in a non-contact uniform but hasn’t been able to make enough progress to return to action.

There have been concerns about Hakanpaa’s knee, both on a short-term and long-term basis. It didn’t appear as if there would be a realistic pathway for Hakanpaa to play in the tournament, given that he’s been unable to get into games since November or receive contact in practices.

As for the long-term, it’s perhaps too early to make a definite conclusion but the Maple Leafs’ medical team were reportedly concerned about Hakanpaa’s knee, before he signed a one-year pact worth $1.47 million with the team on September 11. Hakanpaa suffered a season-ending knee injury with the Dallas Stars last season and evidently hasn’t been able to overcome the long-term effects of the ailment.

Hakanpaa was particularly motivated to return to action in time to represent Finland at the upcoming tournament.

“It’s a really nice thing to work toward. You have that little special thing there, you try to work your way to,” Hakanpaa said to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox on January 18. “It gives that little extra boost every day knowing that’s just around the corner. Hopefully, I can get there in time and help Team Finland create some good memories again.”

Hakanpaa was named to Finland’s roster on December 4, which came as a surprise to some, given his injury history and that he had been placed on injured reserve once again. It appeared that he would be placed alongside his former Stars partner Esa Lindell, if he were healthy enough to play in the tournament.

Finland hasn’t named Hakanpaa’s replacement at the time of this filing.