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Prospal Excited For Bolts Return

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 24, 2008

TAMPA - It did not take Tampa Bay long to realize it could not spell MVP without Vinny Prospal.

Prospal, 33, has agreed to sign a four-year contract worth $14 million, marking the third time he has been acquired by Tampa Bay. His return reunites the popular MVP line of Marty St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier and Prospal.

"It's a very fantastic situation," said Ritch Winter, Prospal's agent. "This is home, the place he loves. Tampa Bay made it clear to him they wanted him back and he loves playing in Tampa and loves playing with Vinny Lecavalier."

Prospal has not yet signed the contract because he is in the Czech Republic with family, but new owner Oren Koules announced during his introductory news conference Monday the deal was in place.

"The first start to building a successful team was putting that line back together," Koules said. "When that line was broken up it was the No. 1 scoring line in the NHL. ...We're trying to show a commitment."

Koules said the deal was struck Saturday, three days after the team traded a seventh-round draft pick to Philadelphia to acquire Prospal's rights and negotiating exclusivity with the pending free agent. The trade also required Tampa Bay to give Philly a fourth-round pick in 2009 if Prospal signed.

In February, the Lightning acquired defenseman Alexandre Picard and a 2009 second-round pick from the Flyers in exchange for Prospal.

"To us, that was a smart move," Koules said. "We got Alexandre Picard, who at the end of the day was probably a top-four, top-three defenseman. We got a second-round pick in next year's draft.

"It cost us a fourth and a seventh, and we have it back. We wanted to send a message to the fans that we're putting this team back together right."

After struggling during the 2006 season with a minus-24 plus/minus rating, Prospal rebounded to score 29 goals and 28 assists in 62 games playing alongside Lecavalier and St. Louis in 2007. A clash between Prospal and former coach John Tortorella led to Prospal's being dealt prior to the 2008 trading deadline.

With the Flyers, Prospal had four goals and 10 assists in 18 games, plus three goals and 10 assists in 17 playoff games.

But Prospal remained a favored teammate of Lecavalier, and Koules recognized the importance of reassembling the line. For his career, Prospal has 179 goals and 375 assists in 792 games.

"I can tell you that in my view, his contract is less than if he wanted to play elsewhere," Winter said. "But considering the length of his contract, Tampa Bay really stepped up to get him back. ... He is thrilled to come back. He's just absolutely beside himself happy."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampa-

trib.com.

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