Bigger role could be in the cards for hulking defenseman Jani Hakanpää

Name:Jani Hakanpää
Number: 2
Age: 30
Birthplace:Kirkkonummi, Finland
Height/Weight: 6-6, 220
2021-22 stats: Four goals, eight assists and 12 points in 80 games
Contract: Two years remaining at a cap hit of $1.5 million.

Performance evaluation

As one of the really solid moves the Stars made in free agency last summer, Hakanpää was very serviceable. The big defenseman took up a lot of the slack lost when Jamie Oleksiak went to Seattle and did it at a much cheaper rate than Oleksiak's $4.6 million AAV with the Kraken.

Hakanpää is a right-handed shot, which is a huge need for this team in terms of defensemen and was a solid addition to the Stars' third pairing. Like Oleksiak, Hakanpää isn't going to score a lot, but he was second in time on ice on the penalty kill (2:16). The guess is his even-strength time will increase this season with the loss of John Klingberg because he definitely can play more than the 16:13 he was averaging last season. Hakanpää was the team's clear leader in hits at 248 (Luke Glendening was second at 179) and was second on the team in blocked shots (112).

Expectations for 2022-23

With the departure of Klingberg to Anaheim, someone is going to have to take his 22 minutes a game. Mix in the fact that it seems logical that Ryan Suter will see a reduction in time on ice from the 23:39 he logged at age 37, and you have a real opportunity for a defenseman or two to step up.

The leading candidates are Hakanpää, Thomas Harley and Colin Miller. Harley seems ready, but he's going to be 21 years old when the 2022-23 season rolls around. Miller is 29, but he played just 38 games for the Sabres last season and seemed to struggle in his three seasons in Buffalo. That leaves Hakanpää, who is both familiar to the coaching staff and has the tools to do more.

The fact Hakanpää is right-handed means he could play beside Suter, who likes a righty. He also could get some time with Miro Heiskanen (although the organization seems determined to play Heiskanen on the right side) or also with Esa Lindell or Harley.

The blueline is a real puzzle, so it'll take some experimentation during the preseason (and maybe early on in the regular season), but Hakanpää looks like one of the most significant pieces right now.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.