The Carolina Hurricanes hit the trade market midseason, looking for another right-handed defenseman to play behind Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce on that right side.
The answer came in the form of Anaheim Ducks imposing blue liner Jani Hakanpaa, who the Canes acquired in exchange for Haydn Fleury on deadline day, April 12. Hakanpaa joined the Hurricanes for the homestretch, playing in the team’s final 15 regular season games before being in the lineup for all 11 playoff games.
Hakanpaa, a massive 6-foot-5 force on the blue line, provided the Canes with some physicality and a defensive-first mindset that the team needed, and his short tenure in a Carolina sweater went relatively well.