Lecavalier Closer To Montreal?

by Robert L on Apr 15, 2009 5:43 PM EDT Comment 9 comments

If you're looking for seasons tickets to Tampa Bay games next season, you might have to leave a message on their answering machine.

It has been reported that the Tampa Bay Lightning yesterday laid off 20 office staff, giving further evidence that the southern hockey franchise is more than a little cash strapped.

Surely, this must suggest that they will get around to dealing with the noose that is the Vincent Lecavalier contract soon enough. When a ship is sinking, it's only sensible to toss the biggest anvil first, rather than managing pebble weights.

As Canadiens fans are certainly aware, there was much more to the Lecavalier rumours than the usual speculative buzz. Habs GM Bob Gainey alluded - make that flat out stated - that Tampa Bay initiated the talks last January, and even went beyond tactical GM protocol by putting names in reporters mouths. The Bolts Blog site has a nice little rundown of the Tampa Bay managements personel faux pas.

Do you get the same feeling as I do, that this story will not die until July 1?

0 recs | Comment 9 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Just an FYI....

The same blog, “The Pending (?) Lecavalier Trade,” is posted at Raw Charge here on SB Nation. I should know since I wrote it and put it in both places. Thanks for the mention, tho. I appreciate it!

Cassie
"And will that be cash, hip check, or Raw Charge today?"

by Cassie McClellan on Apr 15, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

Cassie, I referenced Bolts Blog but linked to Raw Charge. My apologies for not altering the reference to Raw Charge as well. It was posted rather quickly.

by Robert L on Apr 15, 2009 10:22 PM EDT reply actions

Vinny ?

albeit a talented centre with size his contract if unaltered will provide the “lucky” accepting team with a $7.72 million/year cap no trade anchor….hopefully whomever is running the CH doesn’t bite, his shoulder and wrist and contract is not worth the sizable package of players going in the other direction….btw le ti’ gars du chez nous nonsense doesn’t factor in, pointe finale

by pfhabs on Apr 16, 2009 7:39 AM EDT reply actions

Do you really think the package is that sizable on what’s perceived to be an albatross?

Ask yourself this question, what is greater, Montreal’s need (or others) for him at this point, or Tampa’s desperation in unloading and getting some decent return before the July 1 no trade clause kicks in?

Last season, when rumours attached with players names flew, many hockey people suggested that if that was the deal, why didn’t Tampa jump on it?

As it turns out, regardless of the spin put on it by Brian Lawton, the demand of those four players was too much for Gainey . On another angle, maybe it didn’t shed enough salary from the 2008-09 Habs cap to make it workable.

That won’t be a problem this summer.

…and shoulders and wrists can be repaired.

by Robert L on Apr 16, 2009 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Vinny again

Robert:

-ask yourself a question; hockey package aside that could include a Subban and McDonaugh; it is fiscal stupidity to take on that no trade salary for 11 years in a declining cap era…he’ll represent around 15% of the suggested cap in 2010-11…who will he play with you ?

-this is no longer about marketing a francophone superstar and satisfying the pur laine wet dream…its about a viable product on the ice…Pacioretty, D’Agostini or the K brothers centered by Vinny will not equate to a #1 line anytime soon

-sure don’t sign any UFAs and the resulting on ice product will be a joke…look past your enthausiasm for a bona fide #1 centre and look at the reality on ice and on the books

by pfhabs on Apr 16, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I think it’s feasable, and becomes moreso down the line. The cap isn’t always going to be stranded at $56M, and the recession will last two years max. After that, he may be a bargain. How often does a player like this come along.

The players you list look like an awful good line to me. Imagine what a committed AK46 could do alonside Lecavalier, as opposed to Plekanec.

The stickler for me is in sacrificing Subban, who Tampa want. I’m having trouble truly assessing his upside.

by Robert L on Apr 16, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Subban

according to some has huge upside, can run a PP, has a mean streak—-we’ll need some if we loose the only one on D to have any (aka Komisarek) , good transition game and can jump into the play offensively at any time…down fall at this point in his development is that he’s a bit to eager to go on offensive…he would make a great pair with Emelin who has the meanness of Komisarek and the defensive play also…….btw Emelin may be able to jump in immediately or after about 20-30 games in Hammy…Markov & Komisarek; Subban & Emelin sounds like a nice top 4…McDonaugh is labelled as a top 3 guy but may need a year in Hammy….the D will be stronger, meaner and much much better in about 2 years…losing Komisarek would be dumb….on verra

by pfhabs on Apr 17, 2009 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

I can hardly wait for Subban and McDonaugh, but overpaying Komisarek this summer could compromise some cap room needed to improve the team. I see Hamrlik being sacrificed at some point before the end of his deal.

by Robert L on Apr 17, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

Hamrlik

Agree Roman will be traded sooner than later because you have Weber and Georges to fit in and at $5.7 Hammers cash can be spent elsewhere——perhaps for Komisarek :)….doesn’t even include Schneider nor Bouillon

by pfhabs on Apr 18, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions