Defenseman Jani Hakanpää believes he will soon return to the NHL after a serious knee injury.
13:37•Updated 13:39
Transferred from Dallas to Toronto for the upcoming season Jani Hakanpää says he is close to playing condition. The Finnish hockey player opens In an interview with Sportsnet his knee injury, because of which he has not played for half a year.
– Just a small knee problem that has had to be taken care of over the course of a year, Hakanpää told the media.
For example The Toronto Sun reported earlierthat Hakanpää’s injury has been considered career-threatening according to their sources. Hakanpää arrived in Toronto already earlier in the summerbut the announcement of the contract was delayed until September due to rehabilitation.
Toronto General Manager by Brad Treliving according to Hakanpää’s knee was checked in March, after which the rehabilitation has progressed to the point that Hakanpää can be expected to play in the Maple Leafs next season.
According to Hakanpää, he never doubted his return to the NHL.
– It has been quite clear. My team in Finland has thought the same. The key to everything has been that the people around me have believed in the same thing, Hakanpää tells Sportsnet.
According to Sportsnet, the people of Toronto flew to Finland three times during the summer to see their player. Hakanpää went through various tests before Toronto signed the contract. Hakanpää’s contract is for one year and its value is close to 1.5 million dollars.
In Toronto, according to Treliving, Hakanpää is expected to be a three-pair defender and a specialist in the underpowered game. Toronto’s Alivoima was among the weakest in the league last season.
– He is great, big and plays hard. A really nice guy, like Hakanpää, moved from Dallas to Toronto Chris Tanev praised his teammate to Sportsnet.