Everyone is happy with JVR, but if Lupul were in that spot he'd be scoring just as much if not more than him.
He's on pace for 25-30 goals and 25-30 assists. If he produces that well despite struggling and not being on the first even strength or PP unit, then I'm not sure there's much to worry about here.
I think people just have unrealistic expectations for him.
He's actually playing well for the time he's getting and line he's playing on.
He's on pace for 27 goals, and 54 points. Those are pretty good second line numbers. Actually 27 goals is quite a good total.
And people saying he's got a bad contract? Give me a break. He's on pace for two less goals than Evander Kane is, and has the same cap hit. He's only two goals and 5 points off of Bobby Ryan's pace, and has a 150 000 dollar higher cap hit. He's on pace for the same number of goals as Ryan Kesler but has a pace of 3 higher points, and has a quarter of a million dollar higher cap hit. Ryan O'Reilly is on pace for 4 more goals, and on pace for 6 more points, and has a quarter of million lower cap hit (and plays with Duchenne).
So for around a 5 million to 5.5 million dollar cap hit, you can expect a winger to get between 25 and 32 goals (Jeff Carter, Jamie Benn are the high end of this currently at 33 and 31 respectively) and between 50 and 60 points.
So Lupul is doing exactly what's in line with his cap hit. If he gives you more, that's gold.