Major update provided regarding several Leafs' players suffering from injuries

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Daniel Lucente
November 11, 2024 (3:39 PM)

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There appears to be a bit of good and bad news coming out of Toronto today, as Jani Hakanpaa has returned to the ice whereas Calle Jarnkrok has suffered a setback.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving announced Monday that forward Calle Jarnkrok has suffered a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury.

Jarnkrok, who's been on LTIR since the beginning of the season, will now visit a specialist in New York.

The latest development adds more mystery to an already timeline-less return for Jarnkrok.

He was supposed to visit the specialist, and by now, the team was waiting for more details about his condition, since the outcome will contribute to further action on recovery, but it appears it's all been delayed.

Meanwhile, defenceman Jani Hakanpaa was on the ice ahead of the Leafs' practice on Monday.

Though he has not appeared in an NHL game yet this season, Hakanpaa did play two games last week for the AHL's Toronto Marlies on his long-term injured reserve conditioning assignment.

The back-to-backs over the weekend were his first games since March as he works his way back from a knee injury.

Hakanpaa inked a one-year deal with Toronto on Sept. 11 and comes in at 6-foot-7, 225 pounds.

An imposing figure on the ice, he is a steady defender who has accumulated significant experience at the NHL level, having played 288 games to date.

He has recorded 15 career goals and 45 points, having played with the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Dallas Stars.

That Hakanpaa was back playing in the AHL would suggest he's making progress, but his overall conditioning will be closely scrutinized by the Leafs as they decide if he's NHL-ready.

The Leafs have been dealing with injuries in the early parts of this season; the potential returns of Hakanpaa and Jarnkrok could deepen and add some resilience to Toronto's roster.