Music: {allcanada} Leafs' Lupul feeling good after training changes

Thursday, September 18, 2014

{allcanada} Leafs' Lupul feeling good after training changes

Jurassic Park / The Lost World: Jurassic Park

TORONTO -- Coming off yet another injury-riddled season, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul said he worked on his body during the offseason with the idea of training to avoid muscular injuries that lead to something worse.

Lupul missed the final three games last season because of knee surgery, but said he was playing hurt for a while before that.

"I took some different classes with stretching, learned some different things about my body and I feel great going into the year," Lupul said. "Obviously there is always potential for those injuries that are bad luck, but for me I don't want any injuries that are muscular. Last year I had a groin strain and a knee problem that I tried to push through until the end of the year and ended up needing surgery."

Lupul had 44 points in 69 games last season. He last played at least 70 games in a season in 2008-09.

In his career he has dealt with a debilitating back injury that nearly forced him into retirement, a blood disorder, a separated shoulder, a concussion, a foot problem, a groin injury and the knee issue.

"You get hit, you break a bone and that's part of it," Lupul said, "but I don't want to have any of those other injuries where I'm left thinking what could I have done better personally to not miss games?"

Avatar (2009) / Alien: The Director's Cut / Work From Home