Long-term deal interests Lecavalier, team
Published February 28, 2008
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TAMPA - If could-be Lightning owner Oren Koules has his way, center Vinny Lecavalier will be locked into a long-term contract well before July 1, 2009, when he can become an unrestricted free agent.
General manager Jay Feaster said Koules, who heads OK Hockey, which has a purchase agreement to buy the team, "made no bones about the fact they want to come in here and sign Vinny to a contract that keeps him here for the rest of his career.
"They've stated that to me" Feaster added. "I know they've made that statement to his agent. They've put that out there."
Feaster's declaration, perhaps not coincidentally, came after the team traded Lecavalier's best friend, Brad Richards, to the Stars.
Asked Wednesday if he was interested in a long-term deal with Tampa Bay, Lecavalier said, "Definitely. It has been a tough few days for me and my teammates, but I'd be happy to talk to them and go from there."
Signing Lecavalier, 27, in the third season of a four-year, $27.5-million contract that will pay $7.16-million in 2008-09, is going to take a real bank account.
Consider that the Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, also the face of his franchise, just signed a record 13-year, $124-million contract with stats similar to Lecavalier's.
Ovechkin entered Wednesday second in the league with 82 points and first with 48 goals. Lecavalier was third with 78 points and has 32 goals. Last season, he led with 52 goals among 108 points.
Talks can begin any time.
"I love Tampa, and the community has given a lot to me," Lecavalier said. "I'd like to stay here for a long time."
SURGERY FOR GRATTON?: Feaster said center Chris Gratton played much of the season with a bum left hip, and Gratton said there is a chance the unspecified December injury might need offseason surgery.
"It's when you go to push off and strength," he said. "It's something that's going to have to be repaired."
The season has been difficult for Gratton, who in preseason sustained a scratched right cornea from a wayward stick blade. His 21 points are his fewest since 1994-95. Even so, he only missed three games in December.
"I wanted to stay in the lineup as long as possible and help us get back in the playoff race," said Gratton, who has 10 goals.
NEW FACES: Left wing Jussi Jokinen was on the top line with Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis. Jeff Halpern centered the second between Mathieu Darche and Michel Ouellet.
ODDS AND ENDS: Defenseman Filip Kuba is day to day with an undisclosed right knee injury. Alex Picard was called up from AHL Norfolk. ... Feaster said he turned down several trade deadline offers for left wing Andre Roy, whom Tampa Bay wants to re-sign. ... Defenseman Brad Lukowich said he worked out four days after minimally invasive sports hernia surgery in Germany, and is not ruling out playing this season. ... Jokinen said the sprained left knee that sidelined him three weeks in January is fine, though he still wears a brace. ... Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom is 41-3-5 in his career when holding a lead any time in a game and 31-0-1 when leading after two periods.
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