Joffrey Lupul looking to repeat last season's success

Heading into his first full season in a Maple Leafs jersey last year, many questions surrounded forward Joffrey Lupul.

Could Lupul regain his 2005-06 form that saw him score 28 goals in 81 games?

Would he be able to handle the grind of a full season, after playing only 77 games over two sesaons thanks to back surgery and a subsequent blood disorder?

Would the Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta native be able to handle playing in hockey-mad Toronto?

A resounding "yes" answered all three questions, among others.

Before a shoulder injury put an early end to his season in March, Lupul averaged more than a point per game. He tallied 25 goals and 42 assists in only 66 games playing along side the Leafs other sniper Phil Kessel.

Now claiming he is back to 100%, Lupul is hopefully in tune with helping get the blue and white back into the playoffs. He is reunited with Randy Carlyle, who was his coach in Anaheim. With his strong work ethic, Lupul is bound to see plenty of ice since Carlyle rewards those who never quit.

Can Lupul put up 30 goals this year?  Sure he can. Opposing teams already key into Kessel and with newly-acquired James van Riemsdyk garnering attention as well, the 28-year-old should get his share of scoring chances.

It seems the only factor that can hinder Lupul is what has haunted him since Anaheim him drafted seventh overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft: the injury bug. If he can stay away from the infirmary this season, Lupul is on track to have another strong offensive season.

And with their goaltending and defence corps being so inconsistent a year ago, the Leafs will need all what Lupul produces and more.

Questions heading into 2012-13 season

It is less than a month away from the "start" of Toronto Maple Leafs training. I say "start" because there will be no season if players and owners cannot reach a resolution in the latest round of labour negotiations.

Regardless of what happens in the boardroom, the Leafs have some unanswered questions heading into the 2012-13 season. Some are more concerning than others, with the biggest question mark looming behind the pipes.

With the Monster, Jonas Gustavsson, heading a few hours south to the Detroit Red Wings, it's assumed James Reimer and Ben Scrivens will be Toronto's duo heading into the year. After a strong start to last season, which was interupted by the elbow of Montreal Canadien's Brian Gionta, Reimer looks to regain his success from two years ago. He did show flashes of improvement as last season wore on, but he still has much to prove to become a staring goalie in the NHL.

Scrivens will look to give Reimer a run for his money, considering the former's flashes of brilliance last season. He made positive strides in his time with the Leafs, but definitely grew more in the Toronto Marlies run to the AHL Calder Cup final. While the Marlies did lose that series, Scrivens is sure to have gained a ton of experience.

Leaf fans better not rule out the arrival of Vancouver Canucks' superstar Roberto Luongo. While it's reported Luongo would prefer a return to the Florida Panthers, there is still a chance the Leafs could land their first top-flight goalie since Ed Belfour, who ultimately led Toronto to its last playoff appearance in 2003-04.

Other questions heading into the season are:

Can the newest Leaf James Van Riemsdyk help provide more offence outside of Phil Kessel?

Can Mikhail Grabovski prove he earned his big pay raise when he signed a 5-year, $27 million contract in March?

Will having Randy Carlyle behind the bench from the start of training camp benefit a young Toronto squad?

Can Joffrey Lupul match his scoring success from a year ago?

Will the Leafs corps of youth, including Joe Colborne, Matt Frattin and Tyler Bozak, continue to develop to the level management expects?

And finally, will the Leafs make the playoffs?

The last question continues to haunt all of Leafs Nation, but they may get a break if there is no hockey this season.