Joffrey Lupul

[Fanatic]

I think this guy deserves his own discussion.

Can anyone explain what is happening with him? He is just two points shy of his record utput of 53 points in an 82 game season, and that was 7 years ago. He is in a contract year and showing that he is quite possibly the MVP of the Leafs.

Do the Leafs make him a big offer to keep him? If not will they lose him to someone who will overpay? i do not know a lot about Lupul prior to this year, but is it possible that he is playing for a big contract and once that motivation is gone he will settle back down again?

 

[L K]

False.  He is under contract next year at 4.25 million/year cap hit (and salary).

He's been pretty open about it.  He abused his talent level in the past being content rely on his skill to be an ok 5th or 6th best player on an average team.  He had the back injury and it put his career into perspective.  Now that he is healthy and doesn't have that injury, he's working hard.  The thing I appeciate in his game is that he's consistently been one of the best players on the ice for the team AND he seems to be the guy who is making a lot of the scoring plays happen.

If the Leafs could sign him to a 5 million dollar extension right now, I would do it I think.  The extra 750K cap hit always cuts down, but I think he easily gets 6M if he repeats this season next year.

 

[Fanatic]

False.  He is under contract next year at 4.25 million/year cap hit (and salary).

Thanks for your response. I hope the discussion continues in spite of the fact that I made a huge (massive) error. But I am glad to be wrong, because it is nice to have him under contract for next year as well.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

He was pretty vocal coming into the season too about how it was his first completely healthy offseason in awhile and how he had got himself into great shape.

 

[groundskeeper willie]

I think he knows he's got a good thing going in Toronto right now. I also think he really likes Burke and appreciates the chance he was given here. I have no concern whatsoever that he will jump ship to the highest bidder. The Leafs will offer a fair contract and he will accept without much issue.

I think he also likely knows he made far more money on his current contract than he has earned. I know the Leafs have only paid half of that deal, but he doesn't seem like the type to ignore his past contributions.

 

[sneakyray]

with all this talk of his yoga and healthy living it kinda sounds like Gary Roberts...maybe we have the kind of guy who has learned how to take care of himself late into his career.

 

[Erndog]

He is in a contract year and showing that he is quite possibly the MVP of the Leafs.

Do the Leafs make him a big offer to keep him? If not will they lose him to someone who will overpay?

No offence Fanatic, but I'm sure you watched the intermission with the TSN heads last night that prompted you to create this thread correct?

That's how these monsters are created.  There is zero sense of urgency now.  Why worry about what is going to happen in 1.5 years from now when a lot is going to happen from now until then?

We'll have a MUCH better idea a year from now what to do with Lupul.  What if he pulls a Kulemin next year and nets 40 points?  We'll clearly have our answer then.  If Lupul scores 80 points this year, and next year comes in and reels off another 80 point season, then again, we have our answer right?

There are probably hundreds of players who have their contracts expire next summer yet TSN tried creating this little mass hysteria in Leaf Nation.  The answer will be a lot clearly next year at this time.

 

[Fanatic]

He is in a contract year and showing that he is quite possibly the MVP of the Leafs.

Do the Leafs make him a big offer to keep him? If not will they lose him to someone who will overpay?

No offence Fanatic, but I'm sure you watched the intermission with the TSN heads last night that prompted you to create this thread correct?

That's how these monsters are created.  There is zero sense of urgency now.  Why worry about what is going to happen in 1.5 years from now when a lot is going to happen from now until then?

We'll have a MUCH better idea a year from now what to do with Lupul.  What if he pulls a Kulemin next year and nets 40 points?  We'll clearly have our answer then.  If Lupul scores 80 points this year, and next year comes in and reels off another 80 point season, then again, we have our answer right?

There are probably hundreds of players who have their contracts expire next summer yet TSN tried creating this little mass hysteria in Leaf Nation.  The answer will be a lot clearly next year at this time.

Sorry, but this was prompted only by the fact that I heard this morning that he scored three more points. I was out last night and never saw any of the game - just heard the final score on my way home.

I have believed all year long that the Leafs got him with one full year left on his contract. I don't know how or why I made that mistake. Sorry.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Good time to start this thread.  I believe he finally passed Kessel in points!

 

[McPwnage]

Honestly I was attributing a lot of Lupul's success to his chemistry with Kessel but after the 3 assists with Connolly and Kadri I'm starting to think Lupul is just awesome and coming into his own as a player.  Given he was drafted 7th overall and has always been regarded as a player with a lot of upside before his injury history and the fact he has been scoring at this pace since he got here last year it feels like his success is legit and not a fluke.

Honestly he is a UFA come the end of next year and I would be willing to give him a big contract if he can keep playing at this level until then.  I hope he remembers who gave him his second chance!

 

[Corn Flake]

Bill Watters can't stop telling everyone who will listen (not many) that Lupul is UFA this summer.. he got into a big discussion on the radio this morning about it and how Burke will have to be all over keeping this guy... blah blah. 

Lupul is not UFA this summer.    Poor Bill.  He faded so fast from relevance.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Bill Watters can't stop telling everyone who will listen (not many) that Lupul is UFA this summer.. he got into a big discussion on the radio this morning about it and how Burke will have to be all over keeping this guy... blah blah. 

Lupul is not UFA this summer.    Poor Bill.  He faded so fast from relevance.

It's not just him though, the TSN panel last night, specifically Mike Johnson, appeared to also believe that Lupul was UFA this summer.

 

[groundskeeper willie]

Bill Watters can't stop telling everyone who will listen (not many) that Lupul is UFA this summer.. he got into a big discussion on the radio this morning about it and how Burke will have to be all over keeping this guy... blah blah. 

Lupul is not UFA this summer.    Poor Bill.  He faded so fast from relevance.

It's not just him though, the TSN panel last night, specifically Mike Johnson, appeared to also believe that Lupul was UFA this summer also.

I think somebody on that panel did mention at the beginning of the discussion that it wasn't until next summer, but that got forgotten about pretty quick once the discussion got going.

It seemed to be that the original topic was supposed to be about whether the Leafs should try to trade him now when his value is high if they believe this year to be a fluke. It went off the rails pretty fast though.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

Lupul for Pronger?

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

It seemed to be that the original topic was supposed to be about whether the Leafs should try to trade him now when his value is high if they believe this year to be a fluke. It went off the rails pretty fast though.

Which to me, also seemed kind of weird. The guy has been nothing but money since coming here, why on earth would we trade the guy? He has great chemistry with our top forward and from what I can see, cares more than most on our team when things don't go well. He always seems to have the right words to say to the media and is a good team guy, from most accounts.

I hope we keep Lupul for a long time, he is the last guy I would think of trading. At this point, I think Burke should be looking for ways to keep this entire group together, while continuing to wait for that illusive top line center player, before making any other move. We have ample blueliners, which should be seen as our trade bait, not Lupul, certainly not now.

 

[Erndog]

Bill Watters can't stop telling everyone who will listen (not many) that Lupul is UFA this summer.. he got into a big discussion on the radio this morning about it and how Burke will have to be all over keeping this guy... blah blah. 

Lupul is not UFA this summer.    Poor Bill.  He faded so fast from relevance.

It's not just him though, the TSN panel last night, specifically Mike Johnson, appeared to also believe that Lupul was UFA this summer also.

I think somebody on that panel did mention at the beginning of the discussion that it wasn't until next summer, but that got forgotten about pretty quick once the discussion got going.

It seemed to be that the original topic was supposed to be about whether the Leafs should try to trade him now when his value is high if they believe this year to be a fluke. It went off the rails pretty fast though.

Right at the end of the segment, as they segwayed into Darren Dutchyshen and the Sportscenter update, Duthie asked Darren what he would do and he basically said, 'Not sure right now, but if he does this again next year then for sure, sign him up.'  So he knew that he wasn't a pending UFA.

Regardless, like I said earlier, it will be much cleary next year at this time.

 

[nutman]

It seemed to be that the original topic was supposed to be about whether the Leafs should try to trade him now when his value is high if they believe this year to be a fluke. It went off the rails pretty fast though.

Yes my thoughts exactly. I'm glad i am not alone in thinking we should stop trying to deal every guy that starts to shine. too many people out there that just want to do nothing but trade for the sake of trading.

Which to me, also seemed kind of weird. The guy has been nothing but money since coming here, why on earth would we trade the guy? He has great chemistry with our top forward and from what I can see, cares more than most on our team when things don't go well. He always seems to have the right words to say to the media and is a good team guy, from most accounts.

I hope we keep Lupul for a long time, he is the last guy I would think of trading. At this point, I think Burke should be looking for ways to keep this entire group together, while continuing to wait for that illusive top line center player, before making any other move. We have ample blueliners, which should be seen as our trade bait, not Lupul, certainly not now.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

For the love of God, the Leafs better not trade Lupul unless they are getting someone amazing.  At this point, the Leafs need all the offense they can get.

 

[Kin]

Which to me, also seemed kind of weird. The guy has been nothing but money since coming here, why on earth would we trade the guy?

Because you'd be selling high. That's it.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Because you'd be selling high. That's it.

It goes without saying, that it always depends on what you get back, but I always struggle with these types of things, because you never know if the guy you're getting back will form the type of chemistry you already have with the guy you're trading. If it's not broke, don't fix it kind of thing, it would have to be one heck of a player coming back the other way IMO.