ringleader4
04-03-2005, 12:41 PM
Let me start off by saying that I am a Ducks fan AND a Joffrey Lupul fan. No punches pulled there. I am biased. I sometimes do not understand the criticism that is levelled at Lupul by his own supporters. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it all seems to be complaining just to be heard. Coming out of junior Lupul was touted as a goal scoring threat from anywhere on the ice. That is exactly what he has done his entire career, especially when the chips were down. He is not and will never be a "power forward" (whatever that is). At 6'1" and 200 he will hold his own physically but his strengths are in his hands and his head. I saw him play a lot of junior hockey and play his first year with the Ducks and can say that he sees the ice at a level well above most pros. He passes as well as he shoots. In fact, before he went to medicine hat, he played exclusively at center and was shifted in the WHL because they were overloaded down the middle. He adapted quite well to the change and can now play all forward positions. I still think he is out of position just a tad on the wing but nothing he can't handle, as he has shown.
Stats
03/04 Anaheim GP75 G13 A21 P34 +/- -6
03/04 Cincy 3 3 2 5 +4
04/05 Cincy 58 26 25 51 +6
His year with the Ducks was spent mostly on the 3rd line and some 2nd line. He finished in the top 5 or 6 in rookie scoring in the NHL. His demotion to the minors was by a coach who wants to change him from what he is and can be (an offensive force with responsible defensive numbers) to what he could be over time
(another defensive plug). To a certain extent, the way the Ducks choose to play is a microcosm of what is wrong with hockey today (but I digress too much). His first years stats are above average considering the style the team plays. His team mates appear to like him. He fits in.
His year in Cincy has been great. He could have gone and sulked because there was no NHL but he does not appear to have done that. Player of the Month for 2 out of 6 months and he was injured for 1 1/2 of the other months. He is on a streak now (all good scorers go on streaks, they can't do it all year) that hopefully will drag the team into postseason play. He has just turned 21 years old and is by far the offensive leader on this team. He missed 14 games and still leads the team in scoring by 7 or 8 pts. He is very near the top 10 in goal scoring even having missed the 14 games. He is a responsible plus 6 (3rd on the team).
So, to those fans who think he should be more physical than he is or that he should get more involved when his team mates fight, you can't have everything. NO player is like that. By the way, take a look at the type of penalties he takes and you will find thay they are mostly roughing, slash, etc., not hooking and holding. I am going to take an educated guess that he takes most of these penalties sticking up for himself. It was that way throughout his junior days. What you DO have is a gifted scorer who IS the offensive future of the Ducks (if we don't screw it up). I think that Lupul is one of those offensive talents that don't come along very often. With the league apparently moving back to a more offensive style of hockey with coming rule changes we should simply bit back and enjoy the show. Sorry for rambling on.
Stats
03/04 Anaheim GP75 G13 A21 P34 +/- -6
03/04 Cincy 3 3 2 5 +4
04/05 Cincy 58 26 25 51 +6
His year with the Ducks was spent mostly on the 3rd line and some 2nd line. He finished in the top 5 or 6 in rookie scoring in the NHL. His demotion to the minors was by a coach who wants to change him from what he is and can be (an offensive force with responsible defensive numbers) to what he could be over time
(another defensive plug). To a certain extent, the way the Ducks choose to play is a microcosm of what is wrong with hockey today (but I digress too much). His first years stats are above average considering the style the team plays. His team mates appear to like him. He fits in.
His year in Cincy has been great. He could have gone and sulked because there was no NHL but he does not appear to have done that. Player of the Month for 2 out of 6 months and he was injured for 1 1/2 of the other months. He is on a streak now (all good scorers go on streaks, they can't do it all year) that hopefully will drag the team into postseason play. He has just turned 21 years old and is by far the offensive leader on this team. He missed 14 games and still leads the team in scoring by 7 or 8 pts. He is very near the top 10 in goal scoring even having missed the 14 games. He is a responsible plus 6 (3rd on the team).
So, to those fans who think he should be more physical than he is or that he should get more involved when his team mates fight, you can't have everything. NO player is like that. By the way, take a look at the type of penalties he takes and you will find thay they are mostly roughing, slash, etc., not hooking and holding. I am going to take an educated guess that he takes most of these penalties sticking up for himself. It was that way throughout his junior days. What you DO have is a gifted scorer who IS the offensive future of the Ducks (if we don't screw it up). I think that Lupul is one of those offensive talents that don't come along very often. With the league apparently moving back to a more offensive style of hockey with coming rule changes we should simply bit back and enjoy the show. Sorry for rambling on.