Maple Leafs’ Jani Hakanpaa named to Finland’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jani Hakanpaa was named to Finland’s 4 Nations Face-off team on Wednesday, joining his country’s seven-man defensive rotation.

Hakanpaa is the lone Maple Leafs player on the roster. Auston Matthews and William Nylander have already been named to Team USA and Team Sweden, respectively, while Mitch Marner is expected to be named to Canada’s roster Wednesday evening. Nylander is Toronto’s lone representative on Sweden’s roster.

The 32-year-old joins Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Niko Mikkola, Olli Maatta, Rasmus Ristolainen and Juuso Valimaki on Finland’s blue line. Here is Finland’s full roster via Sportsnet:

A solid roster from start to Finnish 🇫🇮 #4Nations pic.twitter.com/DMyk64ztpG

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 4, 2024

A towering defencemen best known for playing a stay-at-home style, Hakanpaa has played in two games for the Maple Leafs this season and is currently on injured reserve retroactive to November 16 with a lower-body injury. He is eligible to return whenever he’s deemed ready to play again, and Finland is banking on the idea that he’ll be ready and pain-free when the tournament kicks off in February.

Hakanpaa recorded two goals and 12 points in 64 games with the Dallas Stars last season, before his season came to an end due to a knee injury. Toronto’s medical team examined Hakanpaa throughout the summer, before both parties agreed to a one-year, $1.47 million contract for the season.

Congrats Jani 🇫🇮

Jani Hakanpää will join Team Finland for the 2025 @NHL 4 Nations Face-Off!! pic.twitter.com/JKqmSpv2Kf

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 4, 2024

Hakanpaa helped Finland capture the gold medal at the 2019 IIHF World Championships, recording one goal and two points in 10 games, in his lone senior international tournament.

We’ll update this story as more details unfold, but in the interim, congratulations to Hakanpaa and the rest of Finland’s selections!

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