Anthony Stolarz will be out 4-6 weeks as the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender undergoes a procedure to remove a "loose body" in his knee. How will the Maple Leafs adjust without their top goalie? The Toronto Maple Leafs still don't have a timeline on when Jani Hakanpaa might return to the lineup. Hakanpaa was placed on injured reserve — retroactive to Nov. 19 — on Dec. 2, ahead of Toronto's matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. Three days later, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube revealed that the veteran defenseman had a procedure done "to help himself out a little bit." Hakanpaa didn't make his Maple Leafs debut until Nov. 13 against the Washington Capitals after recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery earlier in the year. He began the season on long-term injured reserve but skated with the team as if he were healthy. "He just needs a few days and then he'll be back on the ice," Berube said after the team placed Hakanpaa on injured reserve, "and, you know, get up to speed again and be ready to go." The 32-year-old hasn't been seen on the ice since being placed on IR. Ahead of Toronto's game against the Dallas Stars, Hakanpaa's former team, with whom he played three seasons, from 2021 to 2024, Berube was asked if there was an update on the defenseman. There wasn't really one. "He's still rehabbing it. That's really all I have for you," the head coach said. Hakanpaa's tenure with the Maple Leafs got off to a fascinating start in the summer after reports suggested he signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the team on July 1. After meeting several times over the summer, the defenseman signed a one-year, $1.47 million with Toronto on Sept. 11. Hakanpaa has played two games with the Maple Leafs this season, averaging 14:05 of ice time under Berube. The Kirkkonummi, Finland-born defender has played 290 NHL games throughout his career, scoring 15 goals and 30 assists while averaging 18:00 of ice time between the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Stars, and Maple Leafs. Hakanpaa was named to Team Finland's 4 Nations Face-Off roster on Dec. 4. PHILIPPE MYERS OUT OF MAPLE LEAFS LINEUP After skating alongside Morgan Rielly at practice in Toronto on Tuesday, Philippe Myers appears to be out of the lineup on Wednesday when the club takes on the Stars in Dallas. Simon Benoit was the odd man out on Tuesday at Maple Leafs practice. However, Myers was doing extra work following the team's optional morning skate in Dallas, suggesting he was coming out and Benoit was going in. Myers has played seven games with the Maple Leafs this season, after signing a one-year, $775,000 contract with Toronto in the summer. The 27-year-old has one assist and averaged 16:35 of ice time, mostly playing alongside Rielly. Benoit has appeared in 29 of Toronto's 31 games this season on the bottom pairing, usually beside Conor Timmins. The 26-year-old has three assists and averages 16:45 of ice time through that span. Puck drop for Wednesday's game between the Maple Leafs and Stars is set for shortly after 7:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet.
