Mystery Surrounds Jani Hakanpaa's Health After Being Scratched on Conditioning Stint
Jani Hakanpaa has been with the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning stint, but was a scratch for their last game, which has raised concerns about his health status.
There has been great concern over a career-threatening knee injury that saw the Leafs avoid signing Hakanpaa to the two-year deal they initially agreed to on July 1st.
Instead, the Leafs had Hakanpaa work with their medical team over the summer before giving him a a one-year deal just before training camp.
As he recovered from surgery, Hakanpaa, along with Connor Dewar, who was recovering from shoulder surgery, was assigned to the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning stint at the beginning of November.
While Dewar was recalled amid Auston Matthews' injury, Hakanpaa remained with the Marlies and was expected to play this past weekend. However, Hakanpaa only skated in the Marlies game on Saturday and was a scratch for Sunday's tilt.
Conditioning stints under the Collective Bargaining Agreement are able to last three games with teams able to seek an extension for two additional games. Given Hakanpaa did not play Sunday, it will be interesting to see if it was for 'load management' or if there was some sort of reaggravation of Hakanpaa's injury.
If it was for 'load management', it should not come as a surprise for the Leafs to ask for an additional two games for Hakanpaa so they can better assess how his recovery has progressed and allow them more time to figure out their roster situation. Regardless, we should have a better understanding of the roster plans for the Leafs at some point this week.
