TSN MCKENZIE LECAVALIER GOING TO HABS Vinny Trade rumours

http://www.HockeyBay.com TSN MCKENZIE: POTENTIAL FOR LECAVALIER GOING TO HABS Vinny Trade rumours As of 2 p.m., TSN, Canada's equivalent of ESPN, had Lecavalier as the lead story on its site, with no fewer than four stories and two videos devoted to speculation about whether the Lightning is shopping its captain and marquee attraction --and whether the Ile Bizard, Que., native will wind up with the Montreal Canadiens. Within the Lightning ownership group, there are differing views on whether Lecavalier should be traded. One view is that the Lightning might as well close up shop if they trade Lecavalier after getting rid of Brad Richards and Dan Boyle, the foundation on which their 2004 Stanley Cup championship was built. No Lecavalier, it is opined, would equal no reason to buy a ticket to see the Bolts play. The other view is that if the team is going to become ultimately successful again, it needs to start over with a massive rebuild and the yield on a Lecavalier trade would expedite that process, to say nothing of getting out from under the 11-year, $86 million contract with a no-trade clause that takes effect July 1. By NHL.com Staff The talk was enough to stoke debate for weeks -- Vincent Lecavalier from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Montreal Canadiens for a package of players and draft picks.

But both Lecavalier and the Lightning said the rumors were just that, rumors.

"I am from there. My family is from there," Lecavalier told Montreal's La Presse. "My friends as well. I grew up with the Canadiens. I understand there are a lot of rumors presently. But they are rumors. I have heard them throughout my career. I like playing in Tampa, I am a loyal person."

Lightning General Manager Brian Lawton also dismissed the reports.

"To suggest we're engaging in conversations to trade him or we're shopping him to all teams in the National Hockey League is completely inaccurate," Lawton told the St. Petersburg Times. "It's false, egregious and it's abusive toward the player. I can tell you if a player of that stature were ever going to be traded, I would go meet with him, face to face, and discuss the situation. That has never happened."

But with the Lightning having struggled this season, Lawton went on to point out "There are no players who are untouchable."

"And that has nothing to do with Vinny Lecavalier," Lawton went on to say. "That has to do with the status of any team I'm managing. It has to do with our macro goal of being committed to winning, being committed to giving our fans a winner. No player supersedes the goals of any team I'm working on."

Lecavalier told La Presse he hadn't been following the grist from the rumor mill, but had gotten calls from family and friends.

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[vince271121]

never trade subban

[Samael18]

What I think is really funny is when people try to insult montreal because they are frech...hey wake up every team in nhl have french you insult you own players.

[HockeyBash]

Any residual rumors that had Tampa Bay captain Vincent Lecavalier headed north to Montreal at Wednesday's trade deadline officially were squelched Monday by Lightning General Manager Brian Lawton.

"We're not going to trade Vinny Lecavalier," Lawton told reporters. "I'm going to say 'never,' so I don't have to deal with it." SORRY LE' FROZEN FROGS...

[Soulbuddies]

From the first second, this rumour has been as real as unicorns and goblins. 10000% propaganda from the first instant, he will never, ever, ever leave tampa. who started this garbage?

[Sonko07]

Stanley cup 04? Tampa will have another good run in the next couple of seasons. besides Ex penguins that got 2 the stanley cup last year, cant be that lame ass..

[THExxJOKERxx]

Im a habs fan...but trading 4 youngstars and prospects for 1 guy...not sure...if something happens like an injury what do we do with a 45 million contract to pay without a player that plays the contract...thats a risky trade....:S (Habs all the way)

[habfansgj1]

damn i want him to play on montreal but i dont want montreal to trade pk subban

[goplekanec]

Uhm. Boston is 1st in the East and almost in the NHL. Trading him leads to so much extra cap room that will pay off. With the salary from the Thornton trade, they sign Chara and Savard. They helped make Boston what they are now. Vinny will be traded by March 4th, hopefully to Montreal. GO HABS GO!

[7RedDevil4Ever]

if in tampa trying to trade vinny, i want plekanec, higgins, subban, a minor league player and a 1st and 2nd rounder

[7RedDevil4Ever]

i think many people learned a lesson from the thornton trade in 05. the bruins suck since that trade. guys like lecavalier and thornton are hard to come by, keep them