the leafs remain steadfast that they have done nothing wrong here, even though there is an appearance of scandal. Lupul isn’t talking. His agents, one for contracts, one for marketing, didn’t return calls on monday. The nhl players’ association indicated on monday that lupul had three days to appeal the results of his medical exam — and he did not file an appeal.
Which means what?
from the leafs’ end, it means lupul ostensibly violated the spirit of the agreement he made with the team. Basically, he agreed to disappear silently to california and, in exchange for that absence, he would be paid in full, the $5.25 million — $10.5 million if you include last season — remaining on his contract. All the leafs asked of him was to be invisible.
for some reason, lupul got cheeky on sunday. He was momentarily visible on social media. He pointed the finger at the leafs, before withdrawing it. Either someone told him to take down his post or he realized the foolish position he had put himself in.
He called the leafs cheaters — but when given the opportunity to appeal, he chose not to.
word around for some time has been that there is more to this story, that the leafs have something on the veteran winger. Something damaging they just might release should lupul become an annoyance to them. either he was reminded of that on sunday or an agent reminded him or maybe he just had the sense himself to take the post down.
he has no leverage here. Had the leafs bought him out, he would have received just two-thirds of his salary over twice the length of term of the contract. That’s $7 million over four years instead of $10.5 million over two. Had he forced the issue, the leafs would have dispatched him to the minors, and probably somewhere lower than the ahl. He could play, assuming he is able, and ride the bus from one nowhere town to another.