Line Combos: When Lupul Returns

[SprDaVE]

No idea what to expect when Lupul returns.

I can't think of a single winger that needs to be demoted or benched right now.

I think I agree with most that McLaren and Orr will have to take turns in the pressbox until the logjam gets cleared a bit.

 

[Cor]

JVR - Bozak - Kessel
MacArthur - Kadri - Frattin
Lupul - Grabovski - Kulemin
Komarov - McClement - Orr/McLaren

I think this is what we will see

 

[The Podium]

No idea what to expect when Lupul returns.

I can't think of a single winger that needs to be demoted or benched right now.

I think I agree with most that McLaren and Orr will have to take turns in the pressbox until the logjam gets cleared a bit.

Lupul with Grabovski or Kadri would probably be the best idea. JVR is on a tear even if Kessels not (well he is but in relation to his own capabilities), you dont break that up until he cools down.

 

[Brock Radunske]

The boys on Hockey Central at Noon are saying Lupul is taking full practices (hitting and all). It's just a matter of getting into game shape now.

 

[Cor]

Hopefully the game against Pittsburgh is when he makes his return.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

The boys on Hockey Central at Noon are saying Lupul is taking full practices (hitting and all). It's just a matter of getting into game shape now.

Thank god he can't be sent down to the marlies for a "conditioning stint"... never to be heard from again.

 

[Brock Radunske]

First 5 games

JVR Bozak Kessel
Lupul Grabo Kulemin
MacA Kadri Frattin
Karomov McClem McLaren (With Orr rotating)

Rest of Season

Lupul Bozak Kessel
MacA Grabo Kulemin
JVR Kadri Frattin
Karomov McClem McLaren (With Orr rotating)

 

[Brock Radunske]

Damn. JVR took a fall and left practice.

 

[Cor]

Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters

van Riemsdyk took tumble during end of practice skating drill; left ice favouring right leg

 

[Brock Radunske]

Hopefully the game against Pittsburgh is when he makes his return.

It's possible. Just depends on if he's been keeping his conditioning up.

 

[Cor]

It's possible. Just depends on if he's been keeping his conditioning up.

I know he has skated a couple times on his own, and i'm pretty sure they kept him on the bike while he was out.

So hopefully he will be ready

 

[Brock Radunske]

I know he has skated a couple times on his own, and i'm pretty sure they kept him on the bike while he was out.

So hopefully he will be ready

Yeah, he might just need a few practices to adjust to the speed and he'll be good to go.

 

[FlareKnight]

Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters

van Riemsdyk took tumble during end of practice skating drill; left ice favouring right leg

Well that simplifies things. Lupul slots in for JVR and continue as normal...

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Well that simplifies things. Lupul slots in for JVR and continue as normal...

Yeah, there's that...or we could wait until there's actually an injury diagnosis for JVR. Either way.

 

[FlareKnight]

Yeah, there's that...or we could wait until there's actually an injury diagnosis for JVR. Either way.

Sure, let me give you the heads up on that. "Lower-body injury." Have a good day.

 

[AJ93]

I see many of you want to keep Bozak with Kessel (I don't), but I'd like to see this for a change.

Lupul - JVR - Kessel
MacArthur - Kadri - Frattin
Grabovski - Bozak - Kulemin
McLaren - McClement - Komarov

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Sure, let me give you the heads up on that. "Lower-body injury." Have a good day.

Out indefinitely too. Good stuff. Thank you doctor.

 

[p.l.f.]

20 minutes ago
@markhmasters: Carlyle says Lupul hasn't been cleared for contact yet

ignition launched
5...4...3

 

[Brock Radunske]

I see many of you want to keep Bozak with Kessel (I don't), but I'd like to see this for a change.

Lupul - JVR - Kessel
MacArthur - Kadri - Frattin
Grabovski - Bozak - Kulemin
McLaren - McClement - Komarov

That's too much of a change considering we just had a hell week and pulled 5 of 8 points from tough teams.

I want to keep Kadri where he is and I'd rather keep JVR on his scoring pace.

 

[Kibago]

JVR - Bozak - Kessel
MacArthur - Kadri - Frattin
Lupul - Grabovski - Kulemin
Komarov - McClement - Orr/McLaren

I think this is what we will see

Yeah, I vote for this. Lupul's not going to be 100% when he steps back into the lineup; let him get his groove back on the shutdown line.

 

[LeafShark]

20 minutes ago
@markhmasters: Carlyle says Lupul hasn't been cleared for contact yet

ignition launched
5...4...3

If this is true I would guess he's out for another 2 weeks. Leafs will do fine without him in the meantime. We just need him in time for the playoffs *knocks on wood*.

 

[pspot]

I'd like to see
Lupul/Bozak/Kessel - proven chemistry that opposition will have to plan against
JVR/Kadri/Frattin - potential to be a major scoring threat and give opposition two lines to worry about.
Mac/Grabo/Kulemin - has had chemistry, strong two way play and can score. can't ask for much more from a 3rd line
Komarov/McClemment/McLaren or Orr - hate putting Komarov on the 4th line but rounds out the fwd group nicely. Maybe trade of Mac is where Komarov gets the bump.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I'm a believer you don't fix what is not broken, Kadri/Mac/ and when Frattin gets back into playing shape, is a line you don't touch. Keep them together for the entire season.

The rest of the lines can be tweaked, Lupul did not play very well before he got hurt, it will be interesting if he can play for RC, a coach he admitted to having bad feelings with. He's going to have to prove he can to last year's high level.

 

[TmlHockeyFan]

Best wingers to have on Kadri's wing are (IMO):

1. Frattin
2. Kessel
3. JVR
4. Lupul
5. MacA

Frattin and Kadri have chemistry obviously, while Kadri would give Kessel more space, JVR is a shoot-first player which already works with Kadri-Frattin so JVR makes sense. Then Lupul who is a better shooter than passer and finally MacA who's meh-offensively IMO (good, but we have better options).

I wanna see Kadri with Kessel, two very gifted offensive players and Kadri's improved his defensive play so I think it could work out great.

Ideally:

Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
JVR - - Frattin
Kulemin - Bozak/McClement - Komarov
MacLaren - McClement/Bozak - Orr

Grabovski + for playmaking Center (Try kadri for the rest of the season with Kessel and see if it works, if not than make it a big plus for a #1C).

Lupul-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Grabovski-Frattin
Kulemin-Bozak-Komarov
McLaren-McClement-Orr


Trade MacArthur for a 1st.

 

[Stephen]

Put Lupul in the AHL, everybody needs a little time on the Marlies. Call him up when you're ready to have him up...