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Is Vinny staying or going?

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 21, 2009

Where has all the Vinny Lecavalier chatter gone?

It seems only recently Lecavlier's name was all the rage in trade rumor circuits, with the Lightning captain's new 11-year, $85 million contract extension, which includes a no-movement clause, to begin on July 1.

But as the NHL draft approaches Friday and Saturday, the volume has been turned down to a low murmur on message boards and Web sites in regard to Lecavalier's situation. Even Lightning general manager Brian Lawton's phone has not been ringing out of its holster.

"It's been reasonably quiet around here," Lawton said of trade talk from his Tampa office on Friday. "We've had some calls, but nothing I would consider serious."

While most of the recent talk surrounding the Lightning revolves around what the team will do with the No. 2 pick in Friday's first round of the draft - keep it or trade it for a package of players - Lecavalier's situation has hung over the franchise since January, when talk first surfaced Tampa Bay was involved in talks with Montreal to move the 29-year-old All-Star center.

What once seemed likely - even after Lawton stated he wouldn't trade Lecavalier - is no longer a certainty.

Lecavalier's extension pays him $10 million annually for the next seven years, and there was skepticism the Lightning could afford to pay so much to one player. But that player has been the face of the franchise for more than a decade, and the team would risk fan backlash if it traded him.

At a town hall meeting in May, fans confronted the team's top brass during an open question and answer session regarding a possible deal involving Lecavalier, with one fan suggesting Lawton offer to resign rather than trade the franchise center.

Lawton told the crowd that he would not offer any guarantees not to move Lecavalier, as previous GM Jay Feaster did. Lawton said if Detroit came calling with an offer of stars Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom, he would have to consider it.

While the analogy from Lawton was hyperbole to show he would never close the door, he continues to state he has no intentions of moving Lecavalier and is not shopping the star center to other teams. But he also would not hang up the phone should somebody make the effort to open dialogue.

No doubt, discussions will open up once again this week with the draft taking place in Lecavalier's hometown of Montreal. The Canadiens would no doubt like to make a splash inside the Bell Centre, perhaps by making a deal for native-son Lecavalier. And with the Canadiens tentatively sold over the weekend to the Molson family, speculation likely will be renewed as new ownership looks to make an immediate impact.

Pat Hickey, who covers the Canadiens for the Montreal Gazette, said Saturday there is still interest on Montreal's part in acquiring Lecavalier, but the belief is the Lightning want a No. 1 defenseman, although Montreal balked at including Andrei Markov in a deal earlier this year. Hickey said he doesn't believe the Canadiens would change their mind in any new discussions.

The Los Angeles Kings, another team looking to land a big-name star, also been mentioned as a possible trade partner for the Lightning.

While payroll savings is most often cited as the reason for possibly moving Lecavalier, the potential return is another factor Lawton would have to consider when holding discussions.

A player the caliber of Lecavalier could land Tampa Bay a coveted No. 1 defenseman, a top-level prospect and a high draft pick, at minimum. The right package could give the Lightning a strong foundation to complement center Steven Stamkos and whomever the team selects with the No. 2 pick in the draft, a spot Lawton said the team intends to retain.

The top three prospects - forwards John Tavares and Matt Duchene and defenseman Victor Hedman - are NHL ready at the bargain prices of an entry-level contract.

"We feel it best to move forward with the younger players on our team and then add the youthful excitement and skill that comes with adding a No. 2 pick to our team," Lawton said. "And with that No. 2 pick, it is a lot more financially responsible to hold the pick and frankly, we feel it's the best way to build a team."

Now the question will be, is Lecavalier still considered a part of the young core or will he be used to reshape it.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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