By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (June 28) - He isn't the big name fans of the Maple Leafs are salivating over in free agency, but he is big in every other way.
Veteran centre/left-winger Mike Rupp of the Pittsburgh Penguins is a player the Leafs are reportedly interested in to fill out the bottom-six grouping in general manager Brian Burke's forward alignment. Forever on the hunt for large bodies, Burke won't find one much bigger in the NHL than Rupp, who is a strapping 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. The 30-year-old native of Cleveland has missed only one game per season the past two years in Pittsburgh while scoring 22 goals and accumulating 244 penalty minutes.
BIG MIKE RUPP OF THE PENGUINS FENDS OFF TEEMU SELANNE OF ANAHEIM IN THIS PHOTO FROM PITTSBURGH. THE LEAFS COULD SIGN RUPP AS A FREE AGENT.
Rupp is among the few NHLers that has twice gone through the draft. A decent scorer in junior with the Onatrio Hockey League Erie Otters, he was selected ninth overall by the New York Islanders in 1998, but did not sign with the team. He was available again as a 20-year-old in 2000 and New Jersey picked him 76th overall. He helped the Devils win the 2003 Stanley Cup, scoring the final goal in a 3-0 Game 7 victory over Anaheim at Continental Airlines Arena.
After brief stops in Phoenix and Columbus, Rupp found himself back with the Devils for three seasons beginning in 2006-07. He signed as a free agent with Pittsburgh (two years, $1.65-million) on July 1, 2009.
Rupp plays with an underlying heart condition known as Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome - an arrhythmia similar in nature to that which affects Leafs' goalie Jonas Gustavsson. The condition was diagnosed in 1998 and has been kept well under control.
Howard, Leafs finished 23rd and 25th in GF and GA last year. How does truculence, testosterone, pugnacity etc. deal with those issues? Time for Burkie et al to actually make some significant moves, not just puff their chest(s) out
ReplyDeleteAndy, team toughness and physical strength allows you to better control the puck, as well as get towards the opponent's net and to keep people away from yours, therefore aiding both the offense and defense.
ReplyDeleteWe need to extend an offer to Tyler Kennedy who was not extended a qualifying offer. He is an upgrade over Bozak for the 3rd line center. Kennedy, Armstrong, Kadri and we have a 3rd line that can really put pucks in the net.
ReplyDeleteIf we miss out on a real #1 center (my guess is that we do) having 3 lines that can score and be defensively responsible makes us like the Bruins.
Howard: I'm happy to see you are still blogging - keep on chugging and the readers, praise, and the next big opportunity will come your way
Paul. Except the Bruins have Krejci and Bergeron, one of which, (Krejci) would be a #1 centre on most hockey clubs. His vision and passing ability have been compared to Crosby's.
ReplyDeleteI'm on board with signing Tyler Kennedy, now that Brooks laich is off the market. Trade or waive Komisarek and sign a UFA d-man. There are some good ones left.
ReplyDeleteD.Lachine. I don't recall anyone ever saying that Krejci's vision and/or passing ability is comparable to Crosby. If someone did say that, they are flat out wrong. Crosby and many others in the league are far more skilled in both areas that Krejci is.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to signing Rupp, I think it would be a good acquisition. I don't think we can really compare ourselves to the Bruins but that's my take. Rupp the bottom 6 tougher to play against and it would be interesting to see if he could play in front of the net on the #2 powerplay unit. I agree with Bill M. that Rupp would definitely help out at both ends of the ice. It would also be nice to sign Kennedy although I don't think we really need him since we have Bozak.