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Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:21 pm EDT

Report: $77 million over nine years for Vinny Lecavalier

By Greg Wyshynski

If Vegas has odds on when Vincent Lecavalier will retire, we'll plop a few grand on 37. (In a row?) What began as whispers about a "lifelong" contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning this summer is now being reported by Bob McKenzie of TSN as a deal that will pay Vinny $77 million over nine years, with a cap hit of roughly $8.55 million per season. That's actually a lower cap figure than Sidney Crosby has with the Penguins, assuming Lecavalier plays the full nine years.

The contact is also expected to have a no-movement clause, which is great news for Bolts fans but really lousy for people who sell access to "rumors" for a living.

While this might seem like an endorsement of the new regime in Tampa, keep in mind that Vinny is heavily involved in the community and has wanted to end his career there. But kudos go to the Lightning for getting this thing done now as Lecavalier enters the last year of his previous contract. The pressure falls to you, Montreal Canadiens fans, to concoct some outlandish scenario by which Lecavalier will still end up playing for the Habs at some point in his career. We have faith in your undying belief in the improbable.

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34 Comments

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  1. amma.marfo
    1. Posted by amma.marfo Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:53 pm EDT

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    With all the change and uncertainty us Bolts fans have been facing this season, it makes me happy that something is going to be constant through all of this.
    Glad to keep you around Vinny! You've been great to Tampa, and we'll continue to support you :)
  2. Vickie
    2. Posted by Vickie Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    I think Vinny is worth it. He has both Propal and St Louis as his wing mates. They all compliment each other. The last piece to this puzzle is keeping St. Louis around as well.
  3. Captain Trips
    3. Posted by Captain Trips Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    Seen St. Louis?
  4. Adam Jones
    4. Posted by Adam Jones Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    Oh yea, Les Habs think that anyone frmo Quebec is destined to play for them.
    They're still expecting Brodeur to sign there somehow.
  5. Matt
    5. Posted by Matt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Nice Clerks reference, Wysh.
    Can't take the Jersey out of you, eh?
  6. lord_fatal_80
    6. Posted by lord_fatal_80 Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:56 pm EDT

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    Good to see that Vinny and Stamkos will stick around together for awhile like Crosby and Malkin when Malkin resigns with the Pens :)
  7. Michael K
    7. Posted by Michael K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    Really cool that he would sign for so little. Yeah yeah "WHAT!? HE'S GETTING 8.5 MIL!!! THAT'S NOT LITTLE!!!" Guys a dynamo. He should be getting Ovechkin money, but like Crosby he wants to win cups. Don't hold your breath waiting on Ovechkin to win a cup when he's taking up 11 million a year. Bure was every bit as dynamic as Ovechkin, but pure goal scorers don't win cups, dynamic centers win cups. GRETZKY, MESSIER, LECAVALIER, YZERMAN, LEMIEUX. I love you, Canada
  8. Whale4ever
    8. Posted by Whale4ever Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    37...in a row.
    I'm not even supposed to be here today.
  9. J-D
    9. Posted by J-D Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    Never underestimate the delusion of Canadiens fans.
    The only time Vinny Lecavalier will ever wear a Habs jersey already happened - it was when he played Jean Beliveau in "The Rocket."
  10. Mark H
    10. Posted by Mark H Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:07 pm EDT

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    You can badmouth the Canadiens and thier fans all you want.......just ask yourselves why your Vinny wears number 4? After a great Canadien.....Who by the way. Was long retired before Vinny was even born. Funny how thats his idol? Wonder where his heart really is?
  11. BobbyP
    11. Posted by BobbyP Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Brad Richards must feel like a douchebag right now...haha.
  12. GertieLertie
    12. Posted by GertieLertie Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    It's the coolest thing to see a player who's willing to take a bit of a discount to stay and commit himself to the team that "raised him" from a young pup. It never has made sense to me why the money grubbing types will run and grab a 3 year $30 million contract with no guarantees than to take a 7 year, $50 million contract with some job security built in. Just doesn't make sense.
  13. JR
    13. Posted by JR Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    I can see him playing for more than 9 more years so I like the non-movement clause. I don't think there will be any "uncertainty" this year as one poster said, we have Stamkos on the 3rd line, Prospal is back, Vinny will be signed, Melrose has been secured, Toccket is one of the best assistances in the league, and now we can look to signing someone like Hossa, 2 D-men, and a #1 Goalie (Huet, Kolzig, or Emery). I love the new owners commitment to being "overly aggressive" in Free Agency. Things are looking great for TBL.
    Also, keep in mind, as we were last in the league last year we still produced very good games, the downfall was the multiple injuries we had off and on last year.
  14. JR
    14. Posted by JR Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    And to Mark H,
    You are right, Vinny's heart is with Montreal....so much so that he signed a 9 year deal to stay in Tampa Bay. Man, I love my birthplace but I grew up there and never plan to move back, but I'll visit and still hold a fond place in my heart for it....which is exactly how Vinny feels...sorry Canadiens, Montreal is definitely "in his heart" but not your team LOL
  15. H M98
    15. Posted by H M98 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    It's a great deal to lock him up for pretty much the rest of his career. He is in his prime now and will continue to play at an elite level for years. Its the end of all those Vinny to the Habs rumours too, which is a blessing.
  16. Boston Nick
    16. Posted by Boston Nick Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:37 pm EDT

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    Bruins management should learn a lesson from this. When you have a dynamic player, you lock him up for life. Just like the Isles did with DiPietro, the Caps with Ovechkin and now the Bolts with Lecavalier. You don't trade him to San Jose for three rejects without any real reason. Still bitter Bruins fan here. Die Mike O'Connell! You suck!
  17. Ed
    17. Posted by Ed Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    Number 12, you're a loser and Les Habitants suck. Go Lightning!
  18. markm
    18. Posted by markm Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    I'm a Ranger fan living in FLorida. I have seen Vinny play in Tampa numerous times. It is clear to me that the fans love him, and he loves the Bay, so GOOD FOR HIM and Tampa. As far as I am concerned, it couldn't have happened to a better guy, or player.
    That being said, all I have to luck forward to this year is Darcy Tucker, and maybe an over the hill Mats Sundin. Damn. Wish I was a tampa Fan..............
  19. Banzai Pipeline
    19. Posted by Banzai Pipeline Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    nyfan93.....you CAN be a Tampa fan....just let go of your Ranger lust, and join the rest of us Bolts fans. Your support will only make this a stronger hockey community.
    As for Habs fans....SUCK ON IT!!!
  20. NOLESNUM1
    20. Posted by NOLESNUM1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    new owners werent lying.. their going to be very active this offseason. GLAD we still got u vinny!!!
    NOW we got to sign marty and get him locked away!! to me he's our mvp and playmaker.. pretty sure
    melrose will give him and vinny alot of freedom next year and they'll be dominant again.. GO LIGHTNING!!!!!
  21. markm
    21. Posted by markm Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    Hey Lamp
    The only time I dont root for the BOLTS is when they play the Blueshirts. LOL
    I was saying all year they should have thrown the farm at Tampa before they sold the team, stupid management.
    I cant let go of the Blueshirts, I held seasons for too many years and was there when the cup was raised.
    By the time I am 90, they will win again, of course I will be senile and in a home but hey.......LOL
  22. David
    22. Posted by David Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    damn hackers I hate you as for vinny he is money and it is nice to see a player willing to stay with one team.
  23. John M
    23. Posted by John M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    @Adam Jones: You don't get it, man. Last year, we got rumors about Lecavalier, Ovechkin, Tanguay, Iginla, Brière and Hossa. Among these, Brière, Hossa and Tanguay were grounded. Habs fan don't care where the player is from, they just want good players and the cup back home. But a top notch player with a bad team and a coach with temperament attracts rumors, and 60% of the ungrounded rumors come from Habs fans (the rest comes from Leafs fans).
    Now, for Vinny... he's staying in Tampa.
  24. corey s
    24. Posted by corey s Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    Nice work Tampa, Vinny is an awesome player. I like the Lightning a lot and think that they if they can sign some D-men in FA then they can win some games next year. Mike Smith is a great goalie, give him a chance, you dont need Emery or one of those goalies. Good Luck to the TBL but all i can say is LETS GO PENS!!!
  25. Neil A
    25. Posted by Neil A Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:35 pm EDT

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    I'm still waiting for an apology from ESPN after they threw the Lightning under the bus after they won the Cup. Now they'll have to come out on TV and say "We were wrong. Hockey is working in Tampa."

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