Toronto Maple Leafs Have To Focus On The Future

Toronto Maple Leafs Have To Focus On The Future by Jeff Langridge

Toronto Maple Leafs Lose Once Again; Losing Streak Extends To Eight

Toronto Maple Leafs Lose Once Again; Losing Streak Extends To Eight by Jeff Langridge

The Toronto Maple Leafs will get an offensive boost when they hit the ice tonight as they welcome back top-six winger Joffrey Lupul.

Joffrey Lupul has been added to the Leafs’ active roster. He will be available for tonight’s game vs. Arizona. #TMLtalk — Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 29, 2015

Lupul has been out of the Maple Leafs lineup for the past 11 games.

He didn’t miss much.

During the 11 games Lupul was absent from the roster the Leafs have gone 1-9-1, fired their coach and mustered only 15 goals – total – for the 11 games.

The addition of Lupul should give the Leafs a little more help offensively and replace one of Leo Komarov or David Clarkson in the top-six.

We should expect Lupul to line up next to Nazem Kadri – his usual spot – when the Leafs take to the ice. Kadri is Lupul’s possession soul-mate.

When Lupul lines up with any center not named Nazem Kadri the results are horrendous, especially with Tyler Bozak.

If the Leafs are looking for an even stronger possession line they’ll add in Daniel Winnik with Kadri/Lupul.

Winnik with Kadri has a CF% of 52.1% and with Lupul he has a 59.3%. That would also allow the JVR-Bozak-Kessel line to reunite.

In addition to his return to the lineup we can also expect him to return to the rumor mill now that he’s healthy.

The Lupul-Stars rumors have had several glasses of cold water poured on them but Darren Dreger suggested St. Louis as a possible destination while speculating about the Blues direction on the NHL Network earlier this week.

Regardless, now that he’s healthy his name should pop back up in the daily Leafs rumors as we head toward the trade deadline.

To make room for Lupul’s return from IR, forward Josh Leivo has been reassigned to the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League.