Maple Leafs place Jani Hakanpaa on injured reserve; Marshall Rifai called up
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Monday they’ve placed defenseman Jani Hakanpaa on injured reserve, retroactive to Nov.16. With Hakanpaa heading to the IR, defenseman Marshall Rifai has been called up from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
Maple Leafs D Jani Hakanpää has been placed on IR (lower body) retroactive to November 16.
D Marshall Rifai has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
Hakanpaa, 32, has appeared in just two games for the Maple Leafs this season. The towering 6-foot-7 defenseman is averaging just over 14 minutes in his two appearances, including seeing time on the Maple Leafs’ second penalty-kill unit, registering one hit and four blocked shots.
Hakanpaa signed with Toronto on Sep.11, a one-year $1.47-million contract, after there was a ton of uncertainty regarding his knee injury sustained at the end of the 2023-24 season. The Finnish blueliner made his Maple Leafs’ debut on Nov.13, and only managed to get two games in blue and white before being taken out of the lineup. Head coach Craig Berube has been playing Conor Timmins and Simon Benoit on the bottom pair.
Rifai, 26, is called up to the big club after appearing in two games last season with the Maple Leafs. Rifai impressed Berube and the coaching staff throughout training camp this year, displaying an aggressive in-your-face style that Berube craves from his back end.
Rifai has appeared in 17 games with the AHL’s Marlies this season, recording two goals, four points and a plus +10 rating. The Beaconsfield, QC native joins the Maple Leafs and looks to outduel fellow defenseman Phillipe Myers for spot on the Maple Leafs’ blueline should another injury occur.
The Maple Leafs have been hammered by the injury bug of late. While captain Auston Matthews and forward Matthew Knies recently returned to the lineup last weekend, the likes of Calle Jarnkrok, David Kampf, Max Domi, Dakota Mermis, Max Pacioretty and Bobby McMann are all currently out with a variety of injuries.
The Maple Leafs welcome the Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks to Scotiabank Arena on Monday night, and will also host the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals this week on home ice.