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Lecavalier Named All-Star

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2009

PHOENIX - Taking advantage of a five-day period of rest for his shoulder isn't even a consideration for Lightning C Vinny Lecavalier.

When Lecavalier learned Thursday he had been named an Eastern Conference reserve for the All-Star Game, he didn't hesitate to share the excitement of participating in the weekend of festivities that will take place in his native Montreal on Jan. 25.

"It's going to be special," said Lecavalier, who served as captain for the East last year. "The 100th year of one of the greatest organizations in sports, to have it there, it's definitely going to be a great time. Being there with friends and family, it's going to be special."

Lecavalier was named to the team for the fourth time - tied for most of any other member of the Eastern Conference roster - despite not having quite an All-Star season to this point, entering Thursday's game second on the team in scoring behind Marty St. Louis and not ranked in the top 35 in the league in scoring with 34 points.

"I know production-wise, so far it hasn't been like it has been the last two years, but I'm asked to go and it's a great honor," he said. "I'm very happy. I wish Marty could have gone with me, just to be with him like we have the last two years."

As far as his surgically repaired right shoulder is concerned, he said a weekend of rest wouldn't act like a magic elixir.

"I think I've hit the plateau with the shoulder, you know, it's stiff but it's not limiting anything I can do," he said. "My range of motion is not what it used to be, but right now it feels the same way it did on Sept. 1. And I really don't think that a few days off would make it any better. Only time can have an effect on it and that time is going to be over the summer when I'm not getting hit all the time or using it and I have time to work on strengthening it."

Today the league will announce the rosters for the YoungStars Game, which this year features rookies against second-year players, with overall No. 1 pick Steven Stamkos considered to be a strong candidate to be selected.

GRAHAME APPEAL: Former Lightning G John Grahame, who had his contract with Omsk of the Russian Continental Hockey League terminated by the club last month, is expected back in Russia next week for a hearing to appeal the voiding of his contract, according to ESPN.com's Scott Burnside.

According to Burnside, Grahame's contract was voided by the Russian club following an alcohol-related incident in an Omsk nightclub, in which Grahame was allegedly told he could obtain his freedom from jail by signing a document that annulled his contract. Grahame declined the offer, but was released anyway by the team.

Grahame told ESPN.com that newspaper accounts and allegations were "100 percent false" but didn't elaborate on the particulars of the case because of the pending hearing in Russian court.

Grahame spent three seasons with the Lightning and was the backup to G Nikolai Khabibulin when Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup in 2004.

NUTS AND BOLTS: C Paul Szczechura is expected to return to the lineup tonight after missing two games with a leg injury. ... D Paul Ranger returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury. ... Interim coach Rick Tocchet indicated Thursday he may start rotating forwards in and out of the lineup when all are healthy, rather than having one sit out for extended periods.

Erik Erlendsson

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