The Anaheim Ducks have signed minor league defenseman Jani Hakanpaa to a one-year extension according to CapFriendly. The one-way deal will carry a salary of $750K, keeping the Finn in North America for at least one season.
Originally selected by the St. Louis Blues in 2010, Hakanpaa played parts of three seasons in the minor leagues before returning to Finland for several years. In 2019 the Ducks decided to bring him back, signing him to a one-year deal.
Last season, the 6’4″ defenseman played five games for the Ducks and 47 for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, becoming a major part of the minor league team. Whether he’s ticketed for the AHL again likely comes down to the other offseason moves that the Ducks front office has planned, and perhaps his performance in training camp.
Hakanpaa was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, but instead will hit the open market in the summer of 2021.
The beast among men.