Finland’s Defense Takes Hit as Hakanpaa, Heiskanen Ruled Out of 4 Nations Face-Off

TORONTO, Ontario — Finland‘s defense corps for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament has suffered a significant blow as veteran defenseman Jani Hakanpaa and Dallas Stars star Miro Heiskanen have been ruled out due to injuries.

Hakanpaa, 32, has been limited to just two games this season with the Toronto Maple Leafs due to ongoing knee issues. The stay-at-home defenseman last played in mid-November and underwent a “little procedure” on his knee in early December, according to Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. This setback comes after Hakanpaa had season-ending knee surgery last March while with the Dallas Stars.

“Jani Hakanpää has been ruled out of the 4 Nations Face-Off because of his ongoing injury issues,” NHL insider Chris Johnston reported on social media. “Finland now needs two replacements on ‘D’ with Miro Heiskanen already out.”

Heiskanen, Finland’s top defenseman, suffered a lower-body injury during a game Tuesday night and is considered week-to-week. Stars general manager Jim Nill told reporters the team remains optimistic about Heiskanen’s recovery timeline. “We’re pretty optimistic,” Nill said Friday. “He had an MRI done, he saw our team doctor, he’s going to go see a specialist in New York on Monday. And we’ll get a better feel for things.”

The injuries leave Finland scrambling to fill two spots on their blue line for the tournament. Potential replacements include Henri Jokiharju of the Buffalo Sabres, Urho Vakaanainen of the New York Rangers, and Ville Heinola of the Winnipeg Jets.

Hakanpaa, originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2010, developed into a reliable NHL defenseman during his three seasons with the Dallas Stars, playing in 80, 82, and 64 games respectively. Known for his physical, stay-at-home style, Hakanpaa’s absence will be particularly felt by a Finnish team already thin on NHL-caliber defensemen.

The 4 Nations Face-Off, featuring teams from Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland, is scheduled to begin in February 2025. Finland’s coaching staff must now quickly identify and integrate replacements as they prepare to face some of the world’s top hockey talent.