With just a few days before the NHL expansion draft and the actual NHL draft, the rumor mill is starting to heat up around the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last week, there was some buzz the Maple Leafs could pull off something big. It's been mostly quiet since then, but the latest rumor is that forward Joffrey Lupul could be heading to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Forward Joffrey Lupul wasn't protected by the Maple Leafs for the upcoming Vegas expansion draft, which was a bit of a surprise since Lupul missed the entire season with an injury. Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star reports Lupul could end up heading to Vegas, possibly via a trade.
"So either Lupul believes he is healthy enough to play or Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello, the king of finding loopholes in the NHL’s rules, has a deal with Vegas GM George McPhee to take Lupul and his $5.25-million contract off Toronto’s books and stay away from a high-end prospect, such as Brendan Leipsic or Kerby Rychel," McGran writes.
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McGran adds the only way Vegas would likely take Lupul and his contract is if the Maple Leafs added an asset or two. McGran says the team's first round pick could be involved.
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The fear for the Maple Leafs is that they could lose a top prospect to the Golden Knights. Making a deal for Lupul would allow Toronto to keep those prospects. Vegas has made it clear they're willing to pass on prospects in exchange for picks.
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