Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul skates against the Ottawa Senators during the third period at the Air Canada Centre on Jan. 17, 2012.John E. Sokolowski-US PRESSWIRE
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager David Nonis used Sunday's day off following his team's successful season debut to lock up winger Joffrey Lupul for another five years.
Lupul, who was named one of the NHL team's alternate captains a few days ago, agreed to a five-year deal worth an average of $5.25-million per season. His work on the top line last season with Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel landed Lupul the contract, as he was second on the Leafs in points with 67 and assists with 42, both career highs, as well as goals (25).
"[Lupul] has proven to be a dynamic offensive player and since joining our hockey club he has fit in extremely well with our team," Nonis said in a statement released by the team. "His alternate captaincy is well deserved and, by signing this extension, we look forward to him playing a large role with the Leafs for many years to come."
Lupul, 29, finally had a breakout season in 2011-12 after an up-and-down career that saw him go from the Anaheim Ducks to the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, back to Anaheim and then to the Leafs on Feb. 9, 2011 in the trade that also landed promising young defenceman Jake Gardiner. At the time, former Leafs GM Brian Burke had to take Lupul and his contract as part of the price for Gardiner.
Since then, however, Lupul turned his career around. The latest sign of that was when Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle, who often butted heads with Lupul when they were both with the Ducks, named him alternate captain.