Hakanpaa has skated in full Maple Leafs practices the last two days wearing a regular jersey.
We could see Jani Hakanpaa in game action sooner rather than later.
The 32-year-old defenseman is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery in the spring, which saw him miss time with Toronto's main groups. He signed a $1.47 million contract with Toronto on Sept. 11, two months after Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving discussed the addition in July.
Hakanpaa began training camp skating alongside Connor Dewar (shoulder); however, both have since switched their red non-contact jerseys with regular ones and are now skating with the Maple Leafs' main group.
Toronto announced on Monday afternoon that Hakanpaa would begin the season on long-term injured reserve, meaning he'd have to miss the 24 days of the season.
That would make him eligible to return to game action on Nov. 2 against the St. Louis Blues.
Treliving addressed the situation on Tuesday — ahead of their regular season opener in Montreal — and said the defenseman could be ready in a couple of weeks.
"We kind of thought coming into it, it'd be a few weeks. Touch wood, there's been no setbacks. I think, you know, we're hopeful, hopeful the next, I mean, he's been practicing, but it hasn't been full, full, full contact," the Maple Leafs GM said.
"And then, we'll hopefully have a game plan here in the next couple of weeks, whether that means, you know, then maybe get him into some games with the Marlies on a conditioning [stint]. We'll see. We'll see. But [we'll have a] better read probably in the next couple of weeks."
Hakanpaa has been taking reps at practice alongside Timothy Liljegren, who's projected to be a healthy scratch with Toronto to begin the season.
The veteran defenseman played 64 games with the Dallas Stars last season, scoring two goals and 10 assists while averaging 18:39 of ice time.
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