Leafs’ secondary scoring resurgence leaves trade-deadline questions
Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri are leading a resurgence of secondary scoring for the Leafs — but will it be enough to carry the team past the upcoming Olympic roster freeze and trade deadline?
Possibly yes, and possibly no.
The Leafs have three games before the Olympic break — the last being Feb. 8, the day before the break officially begins — with the NHL’s roster freeze extending Feb. 7-23.
If the Leafs are entertaining the addition of secondary scoring — or any other upgrades — the first window closes on Friday. It reopens for a period between the end of the Games, and the arrival of the NHL trade deadline March 5.
Lupul, whose performance has been largely unheralded, now has eight points in his last eight games. Couple that with Kadri, who has 14 points in his last nine games and played over 23 minutes on Saturday, and the Leafs have strong signs of secondary scoring surfacing in timely fashion for the post-Olympic run to the playoffs.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2014/02/02/leafs_secondary_scoring_resurgence_leaves_tradedeadline_questions.html