Joffrey Lupul out for season because of course he is

It was nice of the Toronto Maple Leafs to allow forwards James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul to sit back and enjoy their weekends, worrying not that they would be the latest items in the franchise’s “EVERYTHING MUST GO” fire sale on Monday’s NHL trade deadline.

JVR was shut down after a setback in his rehab from a broken bone in his foot, and it being shut down for the season. 

Lupul, meanwhile, has been diagnosed with a sports hernia injury and is also done for the season. (This was a shady “middle body injury” that coach Mike Babcock referenced.)

As Tony Ambrogio noted, Lupul has never played more than 69 games in any of his six seasons with the Leafs – the personification of injury-prone.

OK, maybe that’s harsh. Or maybe it’s not. From Pension Plan Puppets:

Calling a player “injury prone” is rather dumb and obnoxious, but it really feels like Joffrey Lupul simply cannot stay healthy. From broken limbs, back surgeries, and a serious blood infection, Lupul can’t catch a break. Since joining The Leafs in 2010 he has missed on average ~31 games per season (accounting for the shortened lockout and assuming he misses all further games this year).

Prior to his injury he wasn’t having a great year, scoring 11 goals and earning 3 assists for 14 points in 46 games. It’s a notable decline from his peak in 2011-12 when he earned 67 points in 66 games.

Lupul still seems like the kind of player who can be a serviceable veteran if he can stay healthy. Which, of course, he can’t, so there goes that idea.

By the end of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs may consist of Tyler Bozak, Morgan Rielly, Raffi Torres and some beer leaguers. 

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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