Hakanpää, 29, split the 2020-21 season between Anaheim and Carolina. In total, he produced four points (2-2=4) in 57 regular-season games between the two teams and finished third in the League with 215 hits. After recording one assist in 42 games to start the season with Anaheim, he recorded three points (2-1=3) in 15 regular-season games for Carolina. He also appeared in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Carolina and did not produce a point.
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Having appeared in parts of two NHL seasons with Anaheim and Carolina, he has totaled five points (3-2=5) in 62 career regular-season games played with a +5 plus/minus rating.
"Jani is a big, physical defenseman that sees the ice well and skates at a high level for a man of his size," said Nill. "He is a reliable penalty killer and will help balance out our backend."
Internationally, Hakanpää has represented his native country of Finland at the 2012 World Jr. Championship, winning bronze, and the 2019 World Championship, winning gold. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound native of Kirkkonummi, Finland was originally selected by St. Louis in the fourth round (104th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. He was signed as a free agent by Anaheim on July 3, 2019. He was acquired by Carolina along with a sixth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft from Anaheim in exchange for Haydn Fleury on April 12, 2021.
