I think the Leafs win here just escaping Beauchemin's contract, getting a prospect like Gardiner to do so makes it a great deal.
Maybe accepting Lupul's contract, if contributes nothing, is the price for that, and this would still be a winner for the Leafs.
That said, a healthy Lupul will contribute, and is a significant upgrade to the Leaf's forwards, ...he adds size, speed, and skill. By all accounts he is healthy.
He was buried in Anaheim behind some very good players, likewise when he was in Philadelphia he was competing for icetime against guys like Umberger, Knuble, Gagne, Hartnell etc.
He's a guy that's hungry for an opportunity, and as was pointed out, waived his NTC to go to Toronto to get it.
He's also a guy that will help the Leaf's on the powerplay and isn't afraid to take abuse in front, ...though when he was in Philly, Knuble was better at filling that role, ...not sure how/if he's been used in Anaheim with regards to that, but I saw he's only getting about two minutes of powerplay time there, so it might be an untapped resource for the Leaf's to use and create a little more space for a guy like Kessel out there, or a little more traffic in front for opposing goaltenders to see point shots through.
I think Leaf fans are going to enjoy having him, and as I said above, this trade is already a win for the Leaf's (and the Ducks), whatever Lupul adds will be gravy.
CBS 8 team keeper(5-8) - Points only
C: Tavares, Duchesne, Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins
LW: Parise, Benn, Neal
RW: Kessel, Giroux, Stewart
D: Green,Karlson, Carlson, Whitney, Edler, White
G: Rinne, Lundqvist
2LW,2C,2RW,4D,1G pts.= G=2, PPG=3, SH=5, A=1, W=3, S=.2, GA=-1, SO=4,
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