Franson and Lupul ain't doing so hot overseas. Not really a big deal for Franson though. He's young and his upside is there to invest in for the Leafs or any other team. Lupul should be worried though. He's never played a full 82 games in his career. The last time he came close to a full season was in the 2008-2009 season. He's getting up their in age, his career is continuously marred with injuries, his breakout campaign all happened with a guy of Kessel's calibre on his line- how many teams have only one star on their first line that would give Lupul the opportunity to work with someone of Kessel's talent? While his overseas resume is limited, it's not impressive. There's a lot going against Lupul and this lockout is now the biggest one.
I don't think any of the other players have much to worry about at the moment in terms of their futures...well actually there's Connolly. Poor guy.
Franson and Lupul ain't doing so hot overseas. Not really a big deal for Franson though. He's young and his upside is there to invest in for the Leafs or any other team. Lupul should be worried though. He's never played a full 82 games in his career. The last time he came close to a full season was in the 2008-2009 season. He's getting up their in age, his career is continuously marred with injuries, his breakout campaign all happened with a guy of Kessel's calibre on his line- how many teams have only one star on their first line that would give Lupul the opportunity to work with someone of Kessel's talent? While his overseas resume is limited, it's not impressive. There's a lot going against Lupul and this lockout is now the biggest one.
I don't think any of the other players have much to worry about at the moment in terms of their futures...well actually there's Connolly. Poor guy.
He's jumping in mid-season, on a different size rink, in a foreign country, in his first games back after last year's season ending injury, how about we give him a little time?
Franson and Lupul ain't doing so hot overseas. Not really a big deal for Franson though. He's young and his upside is there to invest in for the Leafs or any other team. Lupul should be worried though. He's never played a full 82 games in his career. The last time he came close to a full season was in the 2008-2009 season. He's getting up their in age, his career is continuously marred with injuries, his breakout campaign all happened with a guy of Kessel's calibre on his line- how many teams have only one star on their first line that would give Lupul the opportunity to work with someone of Kessel's talent? While his overseas resume is limited, it's not impressive. There's a lot going against Lupul and this lockout is now the biggest one.
I don't think any of the other players have much to worry about at the moment in terms of their futures...well actually there's Connolly. Poor guy.
He's playing on one of the worst teams in the league. A team with only 4 wins, and a leading point scorer miles away from a PPG. Joffrey is doing fine, and is playing top line minutes for the team. Its difficult to produce with no linemates.
ALSO - I guarantee you haven't seem him play a KHL game. Stats aren't the whole story.
I understand his situation overseas. I'll take onus for how I structured my paragraph because rereading it, it seems like I could have given the impression that I was talking about how the play of Franson and Lupul overseas would affect their ability to sign solid contracts in the NHL. Their play right now wasn't the point of my post, it was just leading into the point of my post - this is an important year for both players but moreso for Lupul than Franson. But considering both posters bolded the same part in my post, I guess I should thank you for harping on me for one innocent line about his overseas play when there was an entire paragraph around it to put some context as to what my point was.
My point was that his career has turned out to be one obstacle after another for him. He's getting older and in a year where he should be proving himself to be the real deal in order to land a solid contract that will probably take him into the end of his career, he's playing overseas and isn't making any better of a case for himself over there. His KHL play will not define him as a player in the NHL, it's simply yet another thing that isn't going his way.
Also SarcazemKadri, what do you owe me? I have actually seen him play a KHL game.
My point was that his career has turned out to be one obstacle after another for him. He's getting older and in a year where he should be proving himself to be the real deal in order to land a solid contract that will probably take him into the end of his career, he's playing overseas and isn't making any better of a case for himself over there. His KHL play will not define him as a player in the NHL, it's simply yet another thing that isn't going his way.
I wouldn't consider 4 points in his first 6 games as a source of concern. I'm actually glad he's ended up challenging himself by signing to a real crappy team with no NHL superstars on his line (which he will have, once returning to TO).
I wouldn't consider 4 points in his first 6 games as a source of concern. I'm actually glad he's ended up challenging himself by signing to a real crappy team with no NHL superstars on his line (which he will have, once returning to TO).
It's actually 8 games and I never said that it was a cause for concern.
look at GP. whats your hate-on for Grabo all about. even your op tries to say that he can't be cobsistant. i'd say Kuli is less proven. Grabo is in his prime and looking great.
look at GP. whats your hate-on for Grabo all about. even your op tries to say that he can't be cobsistant. i'd say Kuli is less proven. Grabo is in his prime and looking great.
Using interactif's logic, Grabo outscored Crosby last year.
This is why I would be willing to keep Grabo as a winger on the Leafs, if a trade cannot be made for him. He could be our Alex Semin lite. A 2nd line winger, who could provide dimensional secondary scoring. I think we should start examing putting Grabo on the wing for good. As a Center he is remarkably mediocre, where he is a shoot first, tunnel visioned playmaker. But as a winger, perhaps he can actually help this team.
look at GP. whats your hate-on for Grabo all about. even your op tries to say that he can't be cobsistant. i'd say Kuli is less proven. Grabo is in his prime and looking great.
A whole 4 games less than Kule at time of post, ok Bozak played one game less than Grabo last year. Only 4 points less. Maybe he has a 4 point night and ties the bunny.
A whole 4 games less than Kule at time of post, ok Bozak played one game less than Grabo last year. Only 4 points less. Maybe he has a 4 point night and ties the bunny.
bozak had wingers both with career seasons. kuli pooped the bed and mac is a stop gap. grabo is by far a better playmaker than you're making him out to be. IT seems you are tunnel visioned while watching leaf games.
bozak had wingers both with career seasons. kuli pooped the bed and mac is a stop gap. grabo is by far a better playmaker than you're making him out to be. IT seems you are tunnel visioned while watching leaf games.
This is a skipping record, Grabo had great wingers in 10-11 but last year they were poop. Recycled argument.
Grabo is 29 in 2 months, the most assists he has ever had in a season is 29. The onus is on you to prove he is a "far better playmaker" than I am making him out to be.
This is a skipping record, Grabo had great wingers in 10-11 but last year they were poop. Recycled argument.
Grabo is 29 in 2 months, the most assists he has ever had in a season is 29. The onus is on you to prove he is a "far better playmaker" than I am making him out to be.
We can only hope and pray that Grabo becomes as good of a playmaker as Jason Blake, who's had 30, 25, 29, 29, 37, 38 assists in 6 consecutive seasons (most of it while he was 30+). While we're at it, we can pray that Grabo becomes as good of a scorer, too, with a career high of 40 goals.
One day, if we're lucky, we may have another Jason Blake.
