After a long wait, Jani Hakanpaa will test out a knee injury that shut down his 2023-24 season with the Dallas Stars.
WASHINGTON — Jani Hakanpaa is set to make his Toronto Maple Leafs debut when the team takes on the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-6 defenseman, who had been on the Leafs' long-term injured reserve list all season, was activated earlier in the day. However, there was still some uncertainty about whether the Finnish player would be in the lineup.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed Hakanpaa’s participation during his media availability before the game.
Hakanpaa hasn’t played in an NHL game since March 16, when he was with the Dallas Stars, due to a knee injury. The Leafs had shown interest in signing the defender throughout the offseason, with questions surrounding his signing until the team inked him to a one-year, $1.47 million contract just days before training camp in September.
The 32-year-old will replace Simon Benoit, who will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season.
While Hakanpaa played two games with the Toronto Marlies on an AHL conditioning loan, Berube noted he would monitor the defender's minutes, given the long layoff.
"I think it’s just kind of a feel situation and a see situation as it goes along and see what he’s looking like," Berube said. "(See) how his feet are and his timing and things like that. We’ll have to watch that closely tonight and see where he’s at."
Alex Steeves is also set to make his season debut after being called up on an emergency basis from the Marlies following the Leafs’ 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
"He's played extremely well down there in the minors. The times I've seen him in camp with us, he's a worker. And he's got some skill too with it," Berube said of Steeves. "He's a guy that battles. He's competitive, and he works extremely hard. And has the ability to put the puck in there a little bit."
Steeves currently leads the Marlies with nine goals in 10 games this season. He’ll enter the lineup in place of Nick Robertson, who has gone eight straight games without a point.
Matthews stays off the ice.
Auston Matthews remains off the ice, with Berube confirming that the Leafs’ star forward did not skate back at home on Wednesday. If Matthews is ready to return on Saturday, Steeves would likely be the one sent back down to make room on the active roster. This opportunity is significant for Steeves.
Matthews will miss his fifth consecutive game with an upper-body injury.