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Vincent Lecavalier warms up before game at the Bell Centre last season. Tyerl Featherstone / Gazette file photo
Lecavalier a Bolt 'forever'
île Bizard native signs 11-year, $85 million deal with Tampa Bay Lightning
The Gazette
Monday, July 14, 2008
Vincent Lecavalier warms up before game at the Bell Centre last season. Tyerl Featherstone / Gazette file photo
The Tampa Bay Lightning have ensured star centre Vincent Lecavalier
won't be going anywhere any time soon, signing him to an 11-year
contract extension during the weekend.
The deal, which starts following
the 2008-09 NHL season, will keep Lecavalier in a Lightning uniform
through the 2019-20 season and reportedly will pay him $85 million over
the 11 seasons.
"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," Lightning vice-president of hockey operations
Brian Lawton said in a statement.
"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, Lecavalier, 28, scored 40 goals and added 52
assists for 92 points in 81 games in 2007-08, becoming the first Tampa
Bay player to record back-to-back 40-goal seasons.
His 52-goal
effort in 2006-07 earned him the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL's
top goal-scorer. The 6-foot-4, 219-pound native of Île Bizard has
scored at least 32 goals in each of his past five NHL seasons.
"I'm
proud and honoured 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."
Lecavalier
also 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. 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 IIHF world junior hockey championship (1998), the world
championships (2001), the World Cup (2004, earning MVP honours) 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 QMJHL season, 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
Well deserved