The Ultimate Toronto Maple Leafs New Year’s Day Trivia

The Answer to Question 8

B-Joffrey Lupul

The trouble with answering this question is trying to recall a very ordinary moment of Maple Leafs history. Players are often recalled when an injury takes place. There’s even a chance that McKegg himself couldn’t answer this question as it was the third time in his career that he had been called up to play in the NHL. This particular assignment lasted only two games.

McKegg played eight shifts for a total of 04:22 minutes of ice time. He must have impressed in his limited appearance because the following night he was given 11:16 minutes of ice time on 18 shifts. Unfortunately, McKegg didn’t find his way onto the scoresheet in either game. He also didn’t get another shot to play with the Leafs until Mar 26 that season.

Lupul, who was 31-years-old at the time, had already been fighting injuries when he got hurt once again. This time, he suffered a lower-body injury during a New Year’s Eve game against the Bruins.

Lupul missed almost an entire month of action as a result of that injury. Specifically, he sat out for 11 games. To this day, it is unknown what part of his lower-body was actually injured. It was never publically revealed. What is known is that Lupul’s next game was played on Jan. 29 that year.

Lupul’s last game in the NHL took place nearly one full year later. It was on Feb. 6, 2016, where he suffered a “middle-body injury” in a game against the Sens. That injury forced Lupul to get a sports hernia surgery.

While Lupul’s career was coming to an end, McKegg’s was just getting started. McKegg only played a total of four games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in his two years in the organization but has gone on to play many more.

In his seven years in the NHL, McKegg has played a total of 185 games. In the 2019-20 season, playing for the New York Rangers, he played more games than he ever had before. McKegg took to the ice in 53 games where he recorded five goals and four assists.

That wraps up another round of Toronto Maple Leafs trivia. Even just getting one of these answers right should be seen as an accomplishment. Congratulations. Now hit the showers or treat yourself to an ice bath. You deserve it!