Why isn't Lupul on the top line?

[TMLife*]

Because he’s not American.

 

[TootooTrain]

JvR looks fine where he is. Whoever you put opposite to Kessel seems to do well. I'd rather have Lupul on his own line where he can create more.

So much yapping about where guys fit in our top 9. There's so much talent you can shift people around with ease. The target is to create a balanced attack.

 

[Riellyfan04]

Why complaining when both of our top lines are putting up points?? It's not like JVR isn't doing well on the first line.. JVR is better on the top line than Lupul is.

 

[BIitz]

If you want to play with Kessel you have to do the dirty work. Lupul thinks he's too good for that now.

 

[bunjay]

If the OP wants a real answer this is it:

JVR is a safer option when matching against top defensive pairs who are most able to create scoring chances out of turnovers. I love Lupul but he is far more likely to make high risk plays and cough up the puck, and JVR is harder to play against in his own zone.

JVR is currently our #2 PK'ing forward behind McClement.

 

[The Apologist]

Don't think so at all. He's a good player. Probably wouldn't put as many points without Kessel, but that isn't a slight to JVR. He's got amazing net presence, I'd argue one of the best in the game at this point in time.

Oh absolutely, let me correct myself. JVR is fine with a Kessel or a Kadri, not so much on his own though.

 

[The Apologist]

Because Lupul is a second line player. An elite second line player.

He's a ppg player. I'd say that's a pretty elite second line player.

 

[The Apologist]

JvR looks fine where he is. Whoever you put opposite to Kessel seems to do well. I'd rather have Lupul on his own line where he can create more.

So much yapping about where guys fit in our top 9. There's so much talent you can shift people around with ease. The target is to create a balanced attack.

I don't believe either Lupul or JVR are the creators at all. Lupul has benefited greatly from playing with Kessel and Kadri

 

[Crispy Crust]

Because Lupul is a second line player. An elite second line player.

Lupul is more of a 1st line talent given his production that past two seasons.

 

[Matsdarcykulemin]

Lupul is on the 2nd line to add scoring depth

 

[EscapeGoat]

Because Lupul is a second line player. An elite second line player.

An elite second line player producing at a PPG clip for a while now.

Something doesn't add up.

 

[al secord]

He hates Miley Cyrus

 

[Quares27]

What is the problem? JVR has 13 points in 12 games and was on pace for 30 goals last year... This is just complaining for the sake of complaining. There's no reason to change the top line.

 

[The Caveman]

Because he's a ppg player and hasn't been playing with Kessel. You need two strong scoring lines and Lupes has managed to do it playing with Kadri.

I am all for putting Bozak, when he's healthy, back with Kessel, and Lupul with Kadri. It's about spreading the wealth. Who cares about 1st or 2nd line. Let's have two firsts.

 

[Mystifo]

Because we have 3 current wingers who are capable of playing on the 1st line.

 

[Dangles McGavin]

JVR can't create his own offence the way that Lupul can. Thus, having Lupes on the second line helps spread out our depth.

JVR is equally as effective offensively with Kessel as Lupul was, while being far better defensively. JVR's also faster than Lupul, so he's more beneficial to our deadly counterattack with Phil.

 

[Confucius]

Lupul does well playing sheltered minutes.

 

[AuraSphere]

It's better to have talent on all lines then talent on just one line. JVR is doing great on the first line and lupul has great chemistry with kadri on the second line (when everyone isn't injured that is) so why split the lines? I like it the way it is now, putting lupul instead of JVR doesn't make sense, especially since JVR and Kessel are dynamic right now together.

 

[Paris in Flames]

Am I wrong to think it's more to help Kadri than anything?

Isn't there a noted mentorship between the two? I think Lupul is the perfect "older" (yes I realize he's not exactly old) player to help Kadri on and off the ice.

 

[King Mapes]

Id rather have a 2 line team. Everyone wants a Lupul Kadri Kessel line. Why? We would be a 1 line team

 

[mikeo1]

I'd rather roll two scoring lines than one, and he seems to do well playing the second line role. Probably the same reason Kadri plays on the second line instead of Bozak. Why change something thats working pretty well?

 

[pacdunes]

The talent gap between Kadri/Bozak is not the same as Lupul/JVR.

Which is why we will always be asking WHY BOZAK? Not WHY JVR?

 

[Duffman955]

Overstacking the top line isn't needed.

When Lupul and kessel or on 2 different line, the opposing coach has a hard time matching d-pairings against them.

If he plays his top pair on kessel, Lupul is free to set up against the lesser second pair.

 

[Hounsy]

More to line building than putting the positional depth charts in order.

Kessel - JVR and Lupul - Kadri give you pairings to cause match up nightmares who cares who you call 1st or 2nd line.

 

[Mitchy]

Because he's a ppg player and hasn't been playing with Kessel. You need two strong scoring lines and Lupes has managed to do it playing with Kadri.

I am all for putting Bozak, when he's healthy, back with Kessel, and Lupul with Kadri. It's about spreading the wealth. Who cares about 1st or 2nd line. Let's have two firsts.

This.