Lupul was baggage to be gotten rid of because he was well underperforming his contract, had a reputation as being a party boy here and in Philly, the Ducks had 2 well functioning lines, and he couldn't cut it on the third line. He would have been pencilled in again on the third line this year, hopefully eking his way toward 40-45 points again. He had NEVER in 3 cities shown ANY sniff of being a PPG guy. The Toronto fans and media thought also wanted no part of him, based on his previous play and behavior in three cities. Can we please all stop acting like he was the savior and we knew it all along? Especially as nobody believes the Toronto offense will keep this up over the course of the season?
On the other hand it appears there is an easy answer to Paul when he asks who has done better outside of Carlyle's system
Our entire bottom 6 last year, scored 63 points. I would have been happy with Lupul if he had 35 friggen points. I understand we were a budget team, but dont waste the money on Ruutu and Winchester who didnt provide anything, and at the time we brought in Beauch he would have cost us what 1.5 million?
This year, Lupul has tripled out entire bottom 6. Obviously, he would not do that here, but having 10 points at this stage (1 more than the 13 players who were in our entire bottom 6 have combined).
My gripe is not that he is doing so well in Toronto, because as you said DVM, who in this workd would have predicted that? But it is that he was never given a shot to produce with Getzlaf and Perry last season. It worked the year before, and why wouldnt it have worked again? Because Carlyle didnt think he had the talent to play the left side? Pretty bad coaching in my opinion.
Our entire bottom 6 last year, scored 63 points. I would have been happy with Lupul if he had 35 friggen points. I understand we were a budget team, but dont waste the money on Ruutu and Winchester who didnt provide anything, and at the time we brought in Beauch he would have cost us what 1.5 million?
This year, Lupul has tripled out entire bottom 6. Obviously, he would not do that here, but having 10 points at this stage (1 more than the 13 players who were in our entire bottom 6 have combined).
My gripe is not that he is doing so well in Toronto, because as you said DVM, who in this workd would have predicted that? But it is that he was never given a shot to produce with Getzlaf and Perry last season. It worked the year before, and why wouldnt it have worked again? Because Carlyle didnt think he had the talent to play the left side? Pretty bad coaching in my opinion.
What makes you think Beauch would have cost 1.5M? If that's all he wanted, he would have been signed.
Gardiner is getting sheltered minutes, on one of the hottest teams to start the season. He's playing almost 18 minutes a game, in a lesser role, and has 2 years of extra development on Fowler. I think Gardiner has been great to start the season, but Fowler is well above Gardiner's level right now. The difference is a top pairing defenseman vs. an arguable top 4 defenseman, and then beyond even that.
The last two games, including last night's against the Ducks, Gardiner has played 25 minutes. Last night, he played more than even Phaneuf. If he was getting "sheltered" minutes before, he certainly isn't now.
Former Mighty Ducks winger Patric Kjellberg, 42, is making a comeback to hockey (in Swedish Tier 3), at least for a game... He retired 9 years ago (not even 34 years old), during the 2003 cup finals due to personal reasons.
Awesome! I always liked St. Jacques and have been looking in from time to time to see how he does in Europe. He deserved more than one game with the big club after scoring a goal in the one he played. Not to mention that he was a key defenseman on the farm team, so it wasn't like he was bad in the AHL either.
I'm really happy that Giguere seems to have found his game recently. He obviously has had a rough few years and I'm glad he seems to be doing well for the 'Avs. Hope you guys in the OC will give a him a warm welcome when he comes back to Ponda the next time.
*sigh* That cup winning team really had some great guys and players on the team who I really wish all the best where ever they play. Moen, Pahlsson, Kunitz, AndyMac etc. Good times.
This will be removed to former Ducks discussion, but who cares..
This is interesting news for me really. Didn`t followed him much lately, but it didn`t looked like he`s doing THAT bad.
I`m sure he`ll get his confidence back and will be great 2nd pairing guy in next few years. He already averages 20+ minutes in NHL.
Well, would be in ex ducks discussion yes. but interesting no?
Maybe this trade isnt looking as lopsided, especially the way Beauch has been playing lately
Haha I was just kidding
But yes, I've seen a few Toronto games this season and outside of his first 10-15 good games for Toronto, Gardiner has been pretty meh. But someone pointed out this is his first season on a fully pro schedule so it's to be expected.
It sucks that Lupul turned out so well, but he had the chance to here but could never quite put it all together.
But yes, I've seen a few Toronto games this season and outside of his first 10-15 good games for Toronto, Gardiner has been pretty meh. But someone pointed out this is his first season on a fully pro schedule so it's to be expected.
It sucks that Lupul turned out so well, but he had the chance to here but could never quite put it all together.
I would argue he never really had the chance here. He was coming off of surgery and wasn't really put in a position to succeed for an extended period of time
I would argue he never really had the chance here. He was coming off of surgery and wasn't really put in a position to succeed for an extended period of time
I dunno, I wasn't really that impressed with him before the injury as well when he first got here, but that's just my opinion.
Perhaps after the injury he didn't get as much of a chance, but he still got a decent look, but he couldn't really find chemistry with anyone in the top 6. I'd think his contract had something to do with it as well, I mean it really could of gone either way, if he didn't get back to form we'd of been stuck with 4.5m player who's a cripple, just went the right way for Toronto
Happy for Lupul he found form, shame some Toronto fans have to troll every time Beauchemin, Gardiner or Lupul are brought up.
I think as soon as Lupul went down with the serious back injury Murray and Carlyle decided that his contract wasn't worth keeping and that he was gone as soon as they found a taker. The fact that he only played third line minutes after coming back kind of proves they weren't willing to give him a chance.
Before the back injury in 09-10 he had 10 goals in 23 games and was starting to get ice time with Getzlaf and Perry.
While we will never be sure, I highly doubt Lupul puts up those numbers on this Ducks team this year. He would never get the minutes or PP time, and for good reason. The Ducks have plenty more talented players than Lupul.
