Lightning can't bolt on Lecavalier now

Jan 25, 2009 - 12:58 AM By Brian Fitzsimmons PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

The trade rumors are ringing loud and clear to All-Star Vincent Lecavalier. But you have to wonder if the thinking of Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Brian Lawton is clear.

According to multiple reports over the last few weeks, Tampa Bay has foolishly toyed with the idea of trading its captain to a contender, such as the Montreal Canadiens.

"I understand there are a lot of rumors presently," Lecavalier told La Presse, Montreal's French newspaper. "But they are rumors. I have heard them throughout my career. I like playing in Tampa. I am a loyal person."

We're about to find out just how loyal the Lightning are to Lecavalier.

Even when Lecavalier takes the ice in the 57th NHL All-Star Game in Montreal on Sunday, it will be hard for him to forget the swirling rumors - especially since the Bell Centre could turn out to be his new home.

"We're all teammates," Lightning center Ryan Craig told the St. Petersburg Times. "We don't want to see anyone from our group go, especially our leader and captain. Winning solves a lot of problems."

Winning is something Tampa Bay hasn't done very often this season. That's why it's a bit puzzling that rumors of dealing the four-time All-Star began to surface as the team won five of its last seven contests to punctuate the dreary first half.

A native of Ile-Bizard, Quebec, Lecavalier has a no-trade clause in his contract. But that means very little as the Lightning have dealt veteran center Brad Richards and defenseman Dan Boyle to contenders within the past 12 months after getting them to waive similar stipulations in their deals.

"Well, they've talked to me and like they've told everybody else when we got back to Tampa, they had a press conference and they just said that, first of all, we're not going to trade him," Lecavalier said.

"If it were to happen, then (they) would talk to (me) first. So I don't think it's anything. They haven't told me anything else, or they've basically said everything in the media. What they told you guys, they've told me."

Lecavalier was drafted first overall by Tampa Bay in 1998, when then-owner Art Williams stated that his prized prospect would be "the Michael Jordan of hockey."

It's too bad that for the exception of its Stanley Cup-winning season in 2003-04, all Tampa Bay has done is heave up airballs.

If the Lightning are so cash-strapped and warm to the idea of getting Lecavalier off the books, than why did Lawton ink Ryan Malone to a seven-year contract worth $31.5 million over the summer? Lawton also reeled in Vaclav Prospal, Gary Roberts and Olaf Kolzig in the offseason, which was littered with much discussion about Tampa Bay returning to the playoffs.

If the franchise thinks it has a hard time generating revenue now, imagine the trouble it could have selling tickets or merchandise if it trades away the face of the franchise.

"Well, I've said that there's pressure in Tampa, there's pressure on any NHL hockey team," Lecavalier said. "I think myself, I like to put pressure on myself to do the best that I can, to play the best that I can and (to the) best of my ability."

The Lightning need to realize it's not every day a superstar - with enough leverage to request a trade - shows an undying loyalty to a franchise drudging through a near-disastrous season that has included the embarrassing divorce with former coach Barry Melrose.

Meanwhile, a potential swap to obtain the 28-year-old Lecavalier is an intriguing avenue to explore for the Canadiens and their general manager, Bob Gainey.

Gainey is said to be offering up to four NHL-ready players and some combination of high draft picks for Lecavalier, who has an 11-year, $85-million contract extension that goes into effect on July 1.

All-Star blue-liner Mike Komisarek, who is among 11 Canadiens that can become free agents at the end of the season, has been mentioned as part of the deal.

It's not a known fact if the two clubs have exchanged official dialogue in regard to the trade, but Tampa Bay should - at the very least - hold its star for a king's ransom.

Deals that involve a lot of money and several big-name players usually cave in, and it would take a blue moon for Gainey to consider surrendering Chris Higgins, Tomas Plekanec, defenseman Josh Gorges and top prospect P.K. Subban - who shined in the World Junior Championship earlier in the month - for Lecavalier's monster contract.

Although time is ticking for the Canadiens to win with their current core, it appears nothing is imminent on the trade front.

"Like I said, they've told everybody - or they've told me - that nothing's happening right now," Lecavalier said. "If it were to happen, they would come up to me with a list or something like that. If it would happen to Montreal, I mean, I grew up here. I've always loved the Montreal Canadiens.

"It's a great organization, it's a great town. My family's from here. I've got a lot of friends here. Of course, I've always said that Montreal, I think for a lot of Montreal players, it would be a dream place to come and play for."

You'd think the trade talks would be weighing heavily on the mind of Lecavalier, but that surely has not been the case.

He has registered nine goals and 17 points in his last 12 games and leads the Lightning in goals (21), power-play tallies (six) and game-winners (five).

"I don't know. I don't think so," Lecavalier said of preparing for a possible change of address. "But in professional sports, you can't predict the future. If it happens, it happens. Like I said, I love being in Tampa. The coaching staff is great, players are great and I really enjoy being there."

Lawton is on the spot, and his franchise needs to be wary of learning a crucial lesson the hard way.

Like lightning, a leader like Lecavalier doesn't strike in the same place twice.