Lightning Sign Lecavalier to 11-Year Extension

[Colt Seavers]

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed center Vincent Lecavalier to an 11-year contract extension, vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton announced. The deal, which starts following the 2008-09 season, keeps Lecavalier in a Lightning uniform through the 2019-2020 season.

"Not only is Vincent one of the most dynamic players in the NHL, he's one of the classiest people you'll ever meet off the ice as well," Lawton said."With this deal our ownership has made it clear that he is the cornerstone of the Lightning, and Vincent has shown his dedication to the franchise and the Tampa Bay area by signing for less than he undoubtedly would've received on the open market. This is a great day for all Lightning fans."

The franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 273 goals and 602 points in 710 games with the Lightning, Lecavalier, 28, posted 40 goals and 92 points in 81 games in 2007-08, becoming the first Tampa Bay player to record back to back seasons of 40 goals or more. That came on the heels of his 52-goal season in 2006-07 which earned him the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer. A 6-foot-4, 219-pound native of Ile Bizard, Quebec, Lecavalier has scored at least 32 goals in his past five NHL seasons.

“I’m proud and honored to be committing myself to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the rest of my NHL career,” Lecavalier said. “It’s no secret how I feel about the organization, the fans and the Tampa Bay community, and there’s no place else I’d rather be. Combine that with the enthusiasm and commitment to winning that has been shown by owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie, and signing this long-term deal was an easy decision.”

A consistent playoff performer, Lecavalier has tallied 18 goals, 33 points and 64 penalty minutes in 45 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. His nine goals and 16 points in 23 games helped lead the Lightning to the 2004 Stanley Cup, and he has six goals and 11 points in 11 games during the Lightning’s past two playoff appearances.

Selected first overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Lecavalier has played in three NHL All-Star Games and has represented Canada in the World Junior Championships (1998), the World Championships (2001), the World Cup (2004, MVP) and the Winter Olympic Games (2006). Lecavalier played two seasons for Rimouski of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, tallying 86 goals, 132 assists and 218 points in 122 regular season games. Following the 1997-98 season with Rimouski he was ranked as the top North American draft prospect by the Central Scouting Service and was named to the Canadian Hockey League First All-Star Team.

Lecavalier has made community giving and charitable work a part of his daily life since joining the Lightning in 1998. In October of 2007, he made his largest commitment yet to the Tampa Bay community, announcing a $3 million pledge to construct the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. Following the 2007-08 season he was awarded a $25,000 grant by the NHL Foundation in recognition of commitment and service to charities in the community. He also received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy as the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution in his community.

[MrFrost]

Vinny's good for it. One of my favorite players. I wonder what St Louis is gonna get next offer?

[Sukoshi84]

Good move, hell play his ass off and earn every penny of it........ Frosty i dont think St. Louie is gonna get another contract, IMO they want Stamkos to learn as much as possible from him and next year he'll be gone. he's getting kinda old but i would love for him to finish out his days as a Bolt

[MrFrost]

Id love to see the Bolts have a good run for a few years in a row. Especially with Melrose now. I know theres a lot of mixed thoughts about the Bolts right now, but I really wanna see them as a dominant force and i want St Louis to stay and be a part of it. You really think theyll dump him off?

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Sukoshi84

Good move, hell play his ass off and earn every penny of it........ Frosty i dont think St. Louie is gonna get another contract, IMO they want Stamkos to learn as much as possible from him and next year he'll be gone. he's getting kinda old but i would love for him to finish out his days as a Bolt

I agree : they will do every thing they can to fit Stamkos into the lineup , St.Louie is on his way out ...

[Sukoshi84]

Originally Posted by MrFrost

Id love to see the Bolts have a good run for a few years in a row. Especially with Melrose now. I know theres a lot of mixed thoughts about the Bolts right now, but I really wanna see them as a dominant force and i want St Louis to stay and be a part of it. You really think theyll dump him off?

Yeah i do, Baring Stamkos tearing something or worse thats it. Me being a bolts fan from day one i would love to see my Bolts thrive, but as for St. Louie n Stamkos........ the only reason i think they didnt trade him is beacuse thay want stamkos to pick up on they type of player that St. Louie is becasue he has much more offensive potential than Marty did, but they want him to play Gritty Hard nosed hockey like marty, so he will thrive in the future and put up some sick numbers

[BGDDYKWL]

I haven't watched too much of Tampa over the years (mainly just when they were playing one of my teams) so perhaps after watching a good portion of their games this year I will have a different opinion, but this one seems to be a bit much. And don't get me wrong, the guy's a superstar, but at the end of the deal he'll be turning 39 with a cap hit of nearly $8M. The other thing that concerns me a bit (and I realize he's been on some real bad defensive teams) is a guy who scores that much shouldn't be a minus 80 for his career. Again, once I get the opportunity to watch him this upcoming season perhaps I will be singing a different tune, but I think something more like a 7-8 year deal at around $60M would've made more sense.

[Blouin]

too long of a deal. the team gets shelled the last 4 years

[Orr=God]

i love all that lecavlier brings to the table but a 7.5 million cap hit at ages 36, 37, 38, 39 seems a bit much. the lightning should be a pretty exciting run and gun team involved in a lot of 6-5 games.

[pesadillamal]

I think this is a great signing being looked at the wrong way here. The last years of the contract are simply to bring down the yearly average salary. The article says they are paying him $9.7 mil and getting a $7.5 mil cap hit. When he is 37 I would imagine they could renogiate a contract that will pay him more than he would make under this contract, but less than the $7.5 cap hit.

I may be overlooking something but I think they will be able to deal with any problem towards the end of the contract, while saving $2 mil a year vs. the cap the nexy 7 years. I guess they plan on spending down there.

[BGDDYKWL]

Originally Posted by pesadillamal

I think this is a great signing being looked at the wrong way here. The last years of the contract are simply to bring down the yearly average salary. The article says they are paying him $9.7 mil and getting a $7.5 mil cap hit. When he is 37 I would imagine they could renogiate a contract that will pay him more than he would make under this contract, but less than the $7.5 cap hit.

I may be overlooking something but I think they will be able to deal with any problem towards the end of the contract, while saving $2 mil a year vs. the cap the nexy 7 years. I guess they plan on spending down there.

That is likely true. I'm just not a big fan of these ridiculously long deals in general to be honest. Too many variables. No question the extra few cheap years were to soften the cap blow for the majority of the deal, and towards the end when the cap hit is nearly $8M and he's making far less, it would be easy enough to get rid of him to any number of teams who didn't have cap issues (if they wanted to).

[cowboy]

Originally Posted by pesadillamal

I think this is a great signing being looked at the wrong way here. The last years of the contract are simply to bring down the yearly average salary. The article says they are paying him $9.7 mil and getting a $7.5 mil cap hit. When he is 37 I would imagine they could renogiate a contract that will pay him more than he would make under this contract, but less than the $7.5 cap hit.

I may be overlooking something but I think they will be able to deal with any problem towards the end of the contract, while saving $2 mil a year vs. the cap the nexy 7 years. I guess they plan on spending down there.

I don't think you can re-negotiate deals under the current CBA

[pesadillamal]

Originally Posted by cowboy

I don't think you can re-negotiate deals under the current CBA

Thanks cowboy. Always something I don't know about when it comes to these damn economics. Are buyouts an option and would that count against the cap?

EDIT: Looking at some of the finer points of the CBA right now. I guess actually reading about this stuff is an option. I read that a team could buy out a contract for 2/3 of the remaining value if the player is over 26. I don't think this counts against the cap but maybe more reading on the subject will change this thought. If this doesn't count against the cap then this is how the franchise protected themselves. The only bad thing about the buyout is that they can't resign him for a year after the buyout.

I like the deal and feel the savings against the cap will benefit them in the long run. But BGD is right about these long contracts, a lot of variables. These teams are taking big gambles and, just like any big gamble, this could pay of nicely but......

[Humpzilla]

Good deal for the Lightning right here. Now we will no longer have to read those stupid Montreal trade rumors....

[jreverblade9]

WOW! Awesome job Tampa Bay!