Joffrey Lupul was born September 23, 1983 in Edmonton, Alberta. The first round, seventh overall selection of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Lupul is a graduate of the WHLs Medicine Hat Tigers.
An offensively gifted forward, Lupul played three seasons in Medicine Hat tallying 240 points (127-113-240) and was a member of Canadas Silver Medal World Junior Team in 2003 before making his NHL debut with Anaheim in 2003-04. In his first NHL season, Lupul tied for sixth in rookie scoring with 34 points (13-21-34) and was invited to take part in the 2004 NHL Young Guns Game during All-Star Weekend. Although he spent the majority of the season in Anaheim, the former Medicine Hat star played a handful of games with the Ducks AHL affiliate in Cincinnati.
During the lock year in 2004-05, Lupul returned to the AHL and skated a full season with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. In Cincinnati he led the club in both regular season and playoff scoring. The following season the NHL and Lupul returned to action. In his sophomore year with the Mighty Ducks, Lupul competed in 81 games and recorded 53 points. In the 2006 NHL playoffs, Lupul led all Mighty Duck players in goals with nine, four of which were scored in a single game against the Colorado Avalanche. However, the Mighty Ducks would eventually be defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals.
On July 3, 2006 Lupul was acquired in a blockbuster trade by the Edmonton Oilers from Anaheim along with Ladislav Smid, a 2007 1st round pick, 2008 second round pick and a conditional 2008 1st round pick in exchange for Chris Pronger.
As an Edmonton Oiler, Lupul would struggle offensively recording a career low 28 points. With the Oilers failing to qualify the playoffs in 2007, changes were expected to be made in that summer. As a result, the Oilers dealt Lupul and teammate Jason Smith to the Philadelphia Flyers for Joni Pitkanen and forward Geoff Sanderson.
On June 26, 2009, Lupul was on the move again. This time he was going back where it all began, the Anaheim Ducks, as part of a package of players and draft picks that saw the Flyers acquire all-star Chris Pronger.
A back injury and infection forced Lupul out of action for much of the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. As a result, he saw his position on the Ducks' depth chart drop and he found himself again on the move. On February 9, 2010, Lupul was traded along with Jake Gardiner to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Francois Beauchemin.
