Jani Hakanpaa Makes Worrisome Comments About the 4 Nations Face-Off
Team Finland made a surprise selection of Jani Hakanpaa for the 4 Nations Face-Off and it has started excitement for the defenseman but concerns for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Jani Hakanpaa seems way more excited to play for Finland than returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Jani Hakanpaa needs to recenter his priority with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Jani Hakanpa has only played two NHL games this season due to an injury but he showed his motivation to return in time for the tournament.
While his enthusiasm for international play is understandable, the lack of focus on his NHL team, the Leafs in his case, is concerning.
The Leafs signed the 31-year-old to a one-year deal this offseason after backing off with an initial two-year offer due to concerns about his recovery from surgery.
In his brief appearances, Jani Hakanpaa has failed to make an impact with the Leafs by recording no points, four block shots, and a minus-1 rating.
The tournament is starting in just over three weeks which means that Jani Hakanpaa would need to return to NHL action in two weeks to show that he is ready.
However, the Leafs have just four games left before the event and it's giving him limited opportunity to integrate into their lineup before the tournament.
Toronto took a calculated risk by signing Hakanpaa and may now face the possibility of him rushing back too soon or prioritizing Finland over his NHL team which make no sense.
For a team looking to make a deep playoff run this season and is failing pressure from the fans and the situation shows the need for alignment between the players and the organization goals.
The Maple Leafs will need to look at Hakanpaa closely to make sure his focus stays on contributing to the Leafs success before turning his attention to an international tournament.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 19 | 171 ANSWERS Jani Hakanpaa Makes Worrisome Comments About the 4 Nations Face-Off Do you think Jani Hakanpaa should be traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs because of his attitude? | ||
| Yes | 107 | 62.6 % |
| No | 64 | 37.4 % |
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