Toronto Maple Leafs Joffrey Lupul set to join KHL during Lockout -NHL Update
Joffrey Lupul became the latest of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise to leave North America and go on to play in the Russian, Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), as long as the National Hockey League (NHL) is locked out, according to latest reports.
According to the reports and TSN.ca, Lupul is supposedly going to be lacing up to play with last-place KHL team, the Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. It is not known if there is a special reason with him signing there, but reports are pointing towards that franchise
with none saying something else.
Due to a separated shoulder, Lupul played in 66 games last season, missing the final month before the playoffs, but still registered an impressive 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists) and 48 minutes in the penalty box.
"(Lupul) missed the final month of last year and had back issues a couple of years ago and missed a lot of hockey," Lupul's agent, Peter Semonick, told the Post. "He wants to get in and stay in game shape, so for him it's not a matter of money, it's a matter
of getting on the ice and trying to get back the time that he's lost."
He was also part of the All-Star roster last time around and has definitely become one of the key members of the Toronto Maple Leafs roster, along with looking to constantly improve due to the missed time over the past couple of seasons.
Lupul is currently signed on with the Toronto Maple Leafs with a four-year, $17 million contract which will end after the 2012-2013 regular season, making him an unrestricted free agent. He was excited for the upcoming season and was one of those players
that looked at it as being the opportunity for him to shine and make a shatter comeback.
The 29-year-old native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, was picked up by the Anaheim Ducks as the seventh overall back in round-one of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He has played with not only Anaheim, but also the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers
and Toronto Maple Leafs for a total of 515 games played up until now with 323 points (151 goals, 172 assists) under his belt.
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