The Toronto Maple Leafs' saga with free-agent D-man Jani Hakanpaa shouldn't worry Leafs fans, as Hakanpaa is essentially insurance on defense for the Buds this season.

As the saga surrounding the status of veteran Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa’s status as a potential new member of the Toronto Maple Leafs continues to swirl, it’s important to keep an eye on the big picture in Toronto, and specifically, on the spot Hakanpaa would be in contention for if the Maple Leafs do decide to sign him.

In short, Hakanpaa is at best going to be a depth blueliner for the Leafs – someone on their third ‘D’ pairing, averaging approximately 15-16 minutes for Toronto. Look at it this way: Veterans Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe are locks to be in the lineup every game. That leaves Simon Benoit, Timothy Liljegren, Conor Timmins, and Hakanpaa battling for the final two spots.

If Hakanpaa does earn a roster spot with the Buds, he still could be in the press box on more than a few occasions. He’s more or less insurance for Toronto’s defense corps, and a lighter schedule could help Hakanpaa’s beat-up knee handle the rigors of a full regular season. Hakanpaa is on the fringes of the Leafs’ blueprint for success, and if things don’t work out for Hakanpaa in Toronto, Leafs GM Brad Treliving will look elsewhere for a D-man who can be moved in and out of the lineup without any drama.

So don’t get yourself worked up too much, Leafs fans – Hakanpaa could prove to be valuable, but there are much bigger fish to fry in Toronto this season. The Hakanpaa saga could end quickly, but if it doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world. There will be other options out there for Treliving as the season unfolds, and the Leafs could see enough from one of their defense prospects to go with an internal solution on the back end. What we’re seeing now could be a tempest in a teapot, and that’s why Leafs Nation should chill out on this front.