New Maple Leafs Defenseman's Debut Delayed Indefinitely: 'Touch Wood'

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without newly signed defenseman Jani Hakanpaa for the start of the season and potentially much longer.

The franchise announced their regular-season roster on Monday , right before their opener on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs made Jani Hakanpaa's placement on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) official.

That placement will delay the defenseman's debut until Nov. 2 at the earliest, per the NHL rulebook .

"To qualify for LTIR, a player must be expected to miss at least 10 NHL Games AND 24 days of the NHL season," PuckPedia explains regarding the LTIR rules.

Judging by Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving's comments, however, the blueliner might be sidelined for longer than that, potentially spending time in Toronto's AHL affiliate once he's eligible to return.

"Touch wood, there have been no setbacks," Treliving said on Tuesday, via The Sun Times . "He has been practicing, but it hasn’t been full contact.

"Hopefully, we will have a game plan here in the next couple of weeks, whether that means maybe getting him into some games with the Marlies on a conditioning [stint].

"We’ll see. We’ll have a better read probably in the next couple of weeks."

The Leafs confirmed the signing of Hakanpaa in September to a one-year, $1.47 million contract . The former Dallas Star defenseman has not played in the AHL since the 2019–20 season with the San Diego Gulls, but that might change soon.

After missing the latter part of the 2023-24 season with the Stars due to a knee injury, the Leafs are being cautious in his return to action.

The 31-year-old Finnish defenseman last played on March 16 but is expected to be included in the Leafs’ lineup as soon as he's back in game shape.

"We kind of thought coming into it that it would be a few weeks," Treliving added. "We are hopeful. He has been practicing but it hasn’t been full, full contact."

Related: 'A Long Time Coming': Maple Leafs' Jani Hakanpaa Breaks Silence on Return