Vincent Lecavalier (Getty Images)
TAMPA!!! What were you thinking? From the files of the Rick DiPietro contract, we have the Vinny Lecavalier contract. Vinny is a great player no doubt about it. But an 11 year deal brings him to the age of 40. Yes I understand that by the end of his contract, he will be only making 1 million for the 2019-20 season…but does anyone really believe that Vinny won’t have a restructured deal by then?
The cap hit is only 7.73 million over the length of the extension which will seem like a bargain but what if the cap stops going up at some point. Obviously it won’t go plummeting back to pre-lockout levels but damn don’t you have to have some money to sign some defensemen that can actually play D? Tampa apparently thinks you can play 4 or 5 forwards on the ice all the time. As for goaltending, holy crap….Kolzig, Ramo, and Smith…I almost feel pity for that team….they will surely play a majority of their games to the 5-4 or 6-5 variety and worse.
The first two days of the frenzy I applauded the moves Tampa made especially knowing they were going to extend Lecavalier. Now I have some serious doubts here. Yes he can play both ends, and his generous endeavors in the private sector are extremely impressive. Sadly, he is going to have to be prolific and consistent as Joe Sakic (a great old warrior who can still score and play D). Vinny may have to be even better because Tampa is improved but still has serious fundamental flaws that will keep them in the Southeast basement for the next year or two. At the very least, he will stand out.
Oren Koules may be very enthusiastic with Len Barrie and company but I feel pity for this great player. Building your team up front with little in the back is death in today’s NHL. John Tortorella said it best..”safe is death”! One big problem, Vinny Lecavlier can’t play both defensive positions and score either. He will have to play like that and get some help from Tampa brass to see success anytime soon.
So congratulations to Vincent Lecavalier on his new contract…hopefully something changes in the next few months or seasons in Tampa because soon the Tampa media will circles around Koules like they did Feaster and Tortorella and this will not be a good sequel. That’s my take!
