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As Captain, Lecavalier Wants To Set Example

By ERIK ERLENDSSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2008

TAMPA - As an errant pass began to slide out of Vinny Lecavalier's reach during a recent practice, the Lightning's franchise center laid out his body at the blue line in an attempt to corral the puck with his stick.

Though the puck eluded him and banged off the end boards, the move was an accomplishment. It was one of those moments where everybody on the ice or watching from the stands takes notice. It was the type of move a lead-by-example player makes.

Thursday, Lecavalier officially became the leader in the Lightning locker room when he was named team captain.

"I have been here many years, and there are a lot of great leaders on this team," Lecavalier said. "I don't think you need a letter on your sweater to be a leader, but it's definitely a great honor to be captain."

This will be Lecavalier's second go-around with the "C" on his sweater. His first stint as captain came as a teenager when he was named at the tail end of the 1999-2000 season, after Chris Gratton was traded to Buffalo. But at the start of the 2001-02 season, following a training camp holdout because of a contract dispute, Lecavalier's captaincy was stripped by then-coach John Tortorella.

Since that time, however, Lecavalier has grown into one of the top players in the game. With his name already on the Stanley Cup, the top pick in the 1998 draft is the franchise's all-time leader in goals, points and games played. He has put together back-to-back 40-goal, 90-point seasons and recently signed an 11-year, $85 million contract extension that kicks in next year.

"It seems like a million years ago, time goes by very quickly," the 28-year-old said of his first tenure as team captain. "I was 19 years old and a pretty young player; we had a very young team. Obviously, we're more and more experienced and I've been through a lot of ups and downs, but I don't think I have acted differently. I went back to an assistant, but I have always acted the same way, and I will try to do the same and lead by example and do my best."

During his time with the Lightning, Lecavalier also has endeared himself to the community. Last year he committed $3 million through his foundation to help support All Children's Hospital's pediatric cancer center in St. Petersburg and he annually holds a charity poker tournament at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. In June, he received the league's King Clancy Trophy, which recognizes a player for leadership off the ice.

But it was Lecavalier's leadership on the ice and in the locker room that led new Lightning coach Barry Melrose to make Lecavalier the team's captain, even with the presence of veteran players such as Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi.

"I think choosing captain is one of the most important decisions a coach can make," Melrose said. "I like a captain who is on the ice a lot ... but again, he's in the room saying the same things I am and believing in the same things I am. So, that's what grabbed me about Vinny. I think he's going to emerge as one of the best captains in the NHL."

Lecavalier doesn't consider himself the type of captain who will tear the paint off the locker room walls between periods. Instead, he views former Detroit captain Steve Yzerman, who maintained a quiet follow-me demeanor, as the model.

"I have always really looked up to him," Lecavalier said of Yzerman. "I don't think he was the rah-rah guy screaming in the dressing room. But I think he's a guy who was leading by example and played hard on the ice and was good for his teammates, and that's what brought the team together. He's a great hockey player, a great leader, and I will try to do the same."

A year-by-year look at the Lightning captains. Note: The team had no captain during its first three seasons or during the 2001-02 season.

Paul

YSEBAERT

1995-96

1996-97

Mikael

RENBERG

1997-1998

Rob

ZAMUNER

1998-1999

Bill