Leafs dodge suspension as Lupul fined
NHL fines forward $10G for Winter Classic incident; Gleason has first practice
Joffrey Lupul was fined by the NHL on Friday, and that was actually good news for the Maple Leafs.
Lupul avoided a suspension, as the NHL’s department of player safety handed down its verdict on the cross-checking incident involving Lupul and Detroit’s Patrick Eaves during the Winter Classic on Wednesday.
Lupul’s fine keeps the Leafs’ roster intact. The club is riding a threegame win streak following an inconsistent stretch of play in part affected by the loss of 19 man games because of player suspensions.
Lupul’s fine wasn’t the only news on Friday, as the Leafs welcomed newly acquired defenceman Tim Gleason to the fold.
But having Lupul remain in the lineup was important for coach Randy Carlyle.
“The league has a criteria in place for these decisions . . . but we’re not preaching that type of hitting. We’re preaching play hard and do whatever you have to do to defend our team, but we’re not preaching suspendable offences,” said Carlyle. Previous suspensions included David Clarkson (twice), Dion Phaneuf, Carter Ashton and Nazem Kadri. Lupul’s financial hit would have been $128,000 (U.S.) had he been suspended two games without pay. As it is, Leaf players have already forfeited nearly $530,000 in lost income. For Carlyle, he avoids another roster shuffle to a team that appears headed in the right direction again. The coach said his options included moving up Jerry D’Amigo, shifting Clarkson up to the second line; getting Frazer McLaren back into the lineup or moving Peter Holland up. While the Leafs are fortunate to have enough depth to cover their player losses, the real issue for Carlyle is building a team identity, and that task is difficult without the original cast of players. With the Lupul situation settled, Carlyle can now focus on how to fit in Gleason. “I think we’re asking Tim Gleason to play the same style he’s etched out in his NHL career . . . strong physical play, a strong defenceman,” Carlyle said of Gleason, who was dealt for John-Michael Liles Wednesday. “We think he will fit into our group, whether that’s (Saturday vs. the New York Rangers) or later, we’ll be mak- ing those decisions.”
Carlyle added Gleason needs to acclimatize himself to his new team, but his presence certainly sends a message to the other defenceman.
Gleason, meanwhile, spent part of his first day as a Maple Leaf speaking with Nik Kulemin, whom he levelled in a one-sided fight back in January of 2011. Gleason has also played with Phil Kessel at the Vancouver Olympics for Team USA.
“Today (Friday) is a start, it was good to be with the team and watch video,” Gleason said. “It was like going to school again, but this is a very welcoming group.”