TORONTO – Ten years into the NHL career of Joffrey Lupul and it would appear as though a ceiling has not been reached. Instead, at the ripe old age of 30, his performance would suggest that he is only getting better with age. Lupul has already scored five times this season, giving him 16 goals in 19 regular season games dating back to the 2013 campaign. His career, once legitimately in doubt because of injuries, has only climbed higher in Toronto. Through 116 games as a Leaf, he has scored 50 goals and 111 points, numbers that quash anything he had accomplished in previous stops with the Ducks, Oilers, and Flyers. So has the seventh overall pick in the 2002 draft reached his ceiling? "No, no, never," he told the Leaf Report, following practice on a quiet holiday Monday. For one, Lupul says, his dedication to the craft has improved substantially with time. Landing in the league as a 19-year-old in Anaheim, "you just have this feeling you made it to the NHL and now youre here and thats kind of where you stop practicing for some reason. Thats one thing Ive figured out, that even as an old guy on this team you can still work on your skills and get better." His back-hand, for example, had once been a source of weakness; he had trouble both making and receiving passes. But with due diligence and attention to detail as far as improvement, that subtle aspect has improved to the point that he now has supreme confidence in it. "Sometimes I look back to when I was younger and just think Man, if I wouldve worked a little harder on this or this or had [skating consultant] Barb Underhill or had the Rapid Shot machine. If I wouldve done stuff like this when I was younger how much better would I be now? Maybe not at all, maybe a bit, you never know." Lupul was forced to confront the state of his career when lingering back injuries nearly put an end to it four years ago. He realized at that precarious stage that his dedication to the game would have to rise to a "new level". He would practice differently, train differently, scrutinize video differently, do everything with greater diligence and attention, all of this with a new team in Toronto. "When I first came back after the injury I wasnt sure, to be honest, if I was going to be able to do it at the NHL level anymore," said Lupul, who missed 80 games with the Ducks following multiple back surgeries. "It was a long time off and obviously a pretty devastating injury so I didnt know." Upon his return, Lupul "wanted to see how good of a player I could be in this league because I didnt really know. I knew I could be a solid second line player, but I wanted to see if I could take that jump. A lot of it came because of getting traded here." Made a Leaf in Feb. 2011, he quickly got the opportunity to take that jump. Short on wingers of his size and caliber, then-head coach Ron Wilson asked Lupul if he could play the left side, running shotgun with Phil Kessel on the top line. "It was an easy decision," Lupul recalled with a laugh. "Do you want to play with Phil? Sure." The results were career-changing. Thrust into the spotlight of Toronto in a marquee position, Lupul would score nine goals and 18 points alongside Kessel in 28 games, returning the following season with 25 goals and a career-high 67 points in 66 games. He was a staple amongst the league leaders in scoring before a shoulder injury ended his season. "And then I realized that I could be a top-level player in this league," he said. Injuries have remained the only hurdle to Lupul entrenching himself in that conversation; he missed all but 16 games last season because of a fractured right forearm and subsequent concussion. His role, though critical to the Leafs attack, has also shifted. He no longer runs on the top unit alongside Kessel – 24-year-old James van Riemsdyk manning such a spot – nor on the first power-play unit. Instead, Randy Carlyle has aligned him with Nazem Kadri, hoping the two can connect for bursts of offence, thus offering greater balance throughout the lineup. Lupul has additionally put his own best interests to the side in the interim, back to playing right wing with David Clarkson suspended and Nik Kulemin hurt. "Obviously I prefer left, I think Im a better player on the left, but we have two right-wingers down right now so its important that someone fills that role and its something I take pride to be versatile and do different things." And though his minutes have dipped, from a career-high of nearly 19 minutes in 2011-12 to about 17 this season, his responsibilities have increased. An alternate captain once more this season, Lupul has been employed by Carlyle in the last minute of periods and late in games to protect leads, something he hadnt done previously. Now a 10-year veteran, Lupul heads into a Tuesday night affair against the Minnesota Wild with at least a goal in four straight games. He leads the 5-1-0 Leafs in scoring at this early stage in the season and is currently nestled amongst the league leaders with eight points. Fittingly with age though, those things no longer seem to matter as much. "Obviously from the day you start playing the Stanley Cup is your goal, but earlier in your career when youre trying to establish yourself ... it was always 30 goals, 30 goals, I want to get 30 goals," he reflected. "And now I really couldnt care less. Obviously I want to score every game – I love scoring goals – but I just want to do whatever the team needs me to do. "Earlier in my career I probably used to set goals as far as goals, assists and points. Right now, I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win. Winning the Stanley Cup is the only goal I have now." Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . The Calgary Stampeders announced both moves on Wednesday. Parker played 17 regular season games with the Stampeders in 2013, setting career-highs in catches (21) and yards (217). Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . -- Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson is being checked for a possible concussion after blowing a tire on his way to the first workout of spring training. https://www.chinajerseysnfl.us/ .m. on Friday. Granger was acquired from the Indiana Pacers last Thursday for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen, but never played a minute for Philadelphia. The 76ers also received a 2015 second-round draft pick in the deal. Fake Nike NFL Jerseys . - After a back-and-forth battle throughout the season, Alex Guenette has earned the 2013 rookie of the year award for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 by just one point over Ryley Seibert. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . The team announced the moves before Sundays game against Houston. Shaw was 1-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 43 games for the Diamondbacks. Bergesen was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Friday.Excerpts from eulogies delivered at Wednesdays funeral for Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, who died last week at the age of 83.Dickie Moore, former Canadiens teammateIt is a tremendous honour to stand here for my teammate and my friend Jean Beliveau. What more can I say about Jean? Everyone has said so many wonderful words about him. Words like strength, dedication, devotion and elegance.Elise, Jean was so lucky to have you on his team beside him and supporting him through all the years.Me I was lucky. Lucky to have been with Jean for many glorious years with the Canadiens. Lucky to share many amazing moments together. Lucky to have him as a friend.What would you rather be, good or lucky? I was lucky. He was good. I will miss you Jean, a man I always looked up to. Im only five-foot-10.God bless you Jean, your teammate and friend forever.---Yvan Cournoyer, former Canadiens teammateToday, I would like to speak to you about Jean, my captain. I had the fortune to play with Jean my first eight years and to win my first Stanley Cup with him. Four more followed.In the dressing room I had the privilege to sit next to him. Heres a little anecdote. The first time I sat next to him, I realized his pads were a lot longer than mine. I quickly found out why when he got up.On the road, I roomed with him a lot and that allowed me to get to know him better and develop a very good friendship. Given the age difference between us, we developed almost a father-son relationship....Oh captain, my captain, bon voyage.---Serge Savard, former Canadiens teammateIn 1952, the Canadiens called up Jean and he played in three games. In the first game, he stole the show and scored three goals. Thats when the new No. 4 became my idol along with the Rocket and Doug Harvey.I would never have thought at the time that Jean Beliveau would become my teammate and that we would win three Stanley Cups together....Jean was a great leader. We would look toward him when times were difficult. After just a few seasons, his peers named him captain. Surprised and shaken up, he went to see Mr. Selke to turn down the captaincy. Mr. Selke told him he was the choice of the players and to return to the dressing room to fulfil his rolee as leader.ddddddddddddAnd he did that throughout his career, winning 10 Stanley Cups and helping us be better players and better people, on and off the ice. You couldnt disappoint such a role model.A reporter asked him one day how hed like to be remembered and his answer was spontaneous. I want to be remembered as a good team player.---Ken Dryden, former Canadiens teammateEverybody everywhere in the country talked about him the same way. Jean Beliveau has class.Strange though it seems, its easy now to understate his playing career. Its easy to forget that the Canadiens werent always legendary. ... But in 1956, the Canadiens would win the first of five straight championships, and in the 19 years that followed, nine more, leaving every other team in our dust. In our ice chips.Yet it wasnt really until he retired in 1971 that he became truly special. He became an ambassador for the team, but one like no other.He was proud of being a Montreal Canadien, and proud of his sport. He was proud of being a Victoriavilleois and a Montrealer, proud of being a Quebecer, proud of being a Canadian. He believed in all of them, and he represented all of them wherever he went.He had other skills, he might have done other things. But he understood probably by very early in his life that his greatest impact wouldnt be as a corporate or political leader, but as Jean Beliveau. In doing what he did, in being who he was.---Geoff Molson, Canadiens ownerAll of us here today share something in common. Our admiration and our love for Jean Beliveau in so many ways.He was the first hockey player on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. And after he scored three goals in 44 seconds in a single power play, the National Hockey League changed its power-play rules.But he was more than a record breaker. He was the man whose footsteps our parents wanted us to follow. As little boys, we grew up wanting to be like him.He carried the torch high for six decades, and now its our turn, all of us, to hold it high in his memory.Perhaps the best way to do our friend Jean justice, and begin explaining his legacy to future generations, is quite simple. It is to say he was in a class of his own. He was Jean Beliveau. ' ' '