A league appointed second physical for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul found that he is indeed not fit to play. The announcement comes on the eve of the Leafs season. It will allow the club’s management to place Lupul as well as his $5.25 million salary cap hit on long term injured reserve. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has also confirmed Lupul’s LTIR eligibilty on Toronto Radio Tuesday. The move will open up a roster spot as well as significant cap space for the Leafs this season.
Bill Daly tells HockeyCentral at noon that Lupul failed his physical, again.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) October 3, 2017
Toronto Maple Leafs Joffrey Lupul Fails Second Physical
Lupul was ordered a second physical after voicing his displeasure with the team doctor’s assessment prior to training camp. The 34-year-old forward took to Instagram where he accused the Leafs of ‘cheating’ and the league of allowing it to happen. Most believed Lupul to be referring to the fact that he has failed physicals for two straight years. Lupul quickly deleted the comments as well as released an apology a few days after. The accusations prompted the league to step in, ordering a second physical for Lupul, despite his retracting his statements.
The often injured forward will now likely spend the final year of his contract on the sidelines. Lupul has spent significant amounts of time on the IR throughout his career. He has suffered from broken bones; a concussion; knee surgery; a separated shoulder; back surgery and a related infection; as well as other minor injuries in his 13-year career. His most recent ailment, a sports hernia surgery in February 2016, has kept him off the ice for two consecutive seasons.
Lupul will become an unrestricted free agent July 1st, 2018, at the conclusion of his current five-year contract with the Maple Leafs.
Main Photo: TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 15 – Toronto Maple Leafs Joffery Lupul gets the puck past Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres in shootout .Toronto, January 15, 2014. (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
