The first thing to know about the Finnish defenseman is that he is massive, officially listed on Hockey Reference at 6’6″, 225 lbs. Hakanpää was originally a mid-round draft pick of St. Louis back in 2010 but didn’t reach the NHL for a decade. He played in his native Finland up through 2013, gave it a try in North America but couldn’t get past the AHL, and then returned for four seasons in the Finnish Liiga with Oulun Kärpät. After establishing himself as one of the best defensemen playing in Finland, the Anaheim Ducks signed Hakanpää in the summer of 2019, with his rights long since relinquished by the Blues.
Instant Analysis: Maple Leafs sign Jani Hakanpaa to two-year, $1.5 million AAV contract
