Leafs notes: Jani Hakanpaa high on overcoming knee issues

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The eyes of reporters looking up at 6-foot-7 Jani Hakanpaa could not help deviating downward to his right knee.

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But there wasn’t any outward sign of trouble with a joint that became a major talking point since Toronto locked on the free agent defenceman July 1. While it took until last week to sign Hakanpaa (a two-year deal morphed into one amid concern his career might be done), the Finn didn’t hide anything under long pants, and other than taking a pass on golfing Monday at the alumni tournament, he spoke assuredly of making a contribution this season — at some point.

“My golf game is actually bad, that’s the biggest reason I didn’t play,” he quipped. “It’s a little knee issue we’ll have to manage through the year. I think it’s finding ways off the ice to support it and cut out a bunch of stuff that isn’t good for it.”

That would be his preference, rather than a bulky brace to prevent wear and tear.

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On Wednesday, after club training camp medicals, the timetable for Hakanpaa to ramp up activity will be determined. While it could be weeks or even months before he plays, he’s “itching” to go after getting the knee scoped last March in Dallas. He said there was faith in his ability to return and in his personal training staff that his NHL days aren’t done.

“It was a good back and forth with the (Leafs), they visited me (high performance staffers flew to Finland) and I came here so we were all on the same page. We’ve got (the contract) done and now we’re looking forward to the real work. We’re getting close, just putting the finishing touches on it to get back out there.”

With Hakanpaa in the lineup, the Leafs would get not only size, but a good wingspan for penalty killing and 33 career playoff games since 2021.

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HOW SWEDE IT IS

Oliver-Ekman Larsson knows he has come to another Swede-friendly NHL city.

After two years with the Vancouver Canucks (2021-23) where the Sedin twins and Markus Naslund once ruled, he joins Toronto, where Borje Salming blazed a hard trail for his countrymen 50 years ago and Mats Sundin is the franchise’s leading scorer.

OEL took the ceremonial faceoff for the Canucks two years ago in what was the ailing Salming’s last Toronto visit before succumbing to ALS, the night Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe started six Swedes in tribute, including William Nylander at centre.

“That was pretty special. It was a tough night seeing Salming (the crowd gave him a huge ovation, though he had trouble speaking as his Leaf-era teammates fought back tears). But it was a night I’ll remember the rest of my life, to get the chance to just hug him and say a couple of words. I appreciated that.

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“And looking up to Mats, watching him play. There’s a lot of history and I’m very lucky to be here.”

TANEV RAMPS UP

Now that he has re-acquainted himself with the challenges of Toronto traffic, East York native Chris Tanev can make the most of his rink time.

For the prized catch of free agency for general manager Brad Treliving, that means getting to know new teammates and finding a comfort zone on the ice for his physical play.

Tanev had summer discussions with potential blueline partner Morgan Rielly, and most key Leafs were together for intense summer skates at the Ford Centre after Labour Day. Tanev was a GTHL rival of John Tavares, who called right away when the Leafs traded for his rights prior to a six-year $27-million contract offer. He also trains in the summer with Leafs fitness zealot Gary Roberts.

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“I asked Gary about playing here, how he liked it. He had nothing but good things to say. The teams he was on were quite successful, they didn’t end up winning, but had good playoff runs and good series. He told me just be yourself, be good to the fans, enjoy yourself. You’re definitely in the spotlight here more than Dallas, Calgary and Vancouver, but I’m used to the Canadian markets.

“You’re proud to be a Leaf, you want to be on a good team and surrounded by very good players. Obviously being in Toronto comes with expectations and that’s what we’ll be ready for and work towards as this camp starts.”

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STOLI AND WOLLY

The new goaltending tandem on the Leafs is Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, with a little bit of Matt Murray maybe worked in before the regular season is completed.

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Let the crease crunch begin, with Stolarz coming from the Cup champion Florida Panthers, but anxious to prove he’s much more than Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup.

“You’ve got those pre-camp butterflies, you want to get things going and get the first (exhibition) game in,” Stolarz said Monday.

“(The three goalies) had a couple of skates together, we’re looking to go out there and push each other. Woll and I have the same agent, who gave me a little rundown on him and he seems like a super-nice guy. I’m looking forward to working with him and Murray. I’ve picked their brain on some goalie stuff.

“On the ice, it’s going to be a battle. It’s tough as a goalie, there’s only one spot to play. At the end of the day, you want to push each other and that will only make the team better.”

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LOOSE LEAFS

Stolarz is good in net — and at networking. He played with Ekman-Larsson and PTO forward Steven Lorentz in Florida last year, also previously with Mitch Marner, Max Domi and new Leaf defence hopeful Dakota Mermis with the London Knights, as well as Simon Benoit and Hakanpaa on the AHL San Diego Gulls. He also has joined the team fantasy football league … The alumni golf event raised between $500,000 and $750,000 for the MLSE Foundation, towards a goal of $30 million the past four years for the organization’s Change the Game campaign to remove barriers for youth to reach potential through sport … Updates on the two Leaf rookies injured last week before and during the two-game series against Montreal, defenceman Ben Danford (upper body) and Fraser Minten (lower body), are expected by Wednesday … New captain Auston Matthews turns 27 on Tuesday.

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