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| 13th July, 2008 - 4:49 pm |  RealGM Staff Report - The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed center Vincent Lecavalier to an 11-year contract extension, Vice President of Hockey Operations Brian Lawton announced. The deal, which starts following the 2008-09 season, keeps Lecavalier in a Lightning uniform through the 2019-2020 season.
"Not only is Vincent one of the most dynamic players in the NHL, he's one of the classiest people you'll ever meet off the ice as well," Lawton said."With this deal our ownership has made it clear that he is the cornerstone of the Lightning, and Vincent has shown his dedication to the franchise and the Tampa Bay area by signing for less than he undoubtedly would've received on the open market. This is a great day for all Lightning fans."
The franchise?s all-time leading scorer with 273 goals and 602 points in 710 games with the Lightning, Lecavalier, 28, posted 40 goals and 92 points in 81 games in 2007-08, becoming the first Tampa Bay player to record back to back seasons of 40 goals or more. That came on the heels of his 52-goal season in 2006-07 which earned him the Maurice ?Rocket? Richard Trophy as the NHL?s top goal scorer. A 6-foot-4, 219-pound native of Ile Bizard, Quebec, Lecavalier has scored at least 32 goals in his past five NHL seasons.
?I?m proud and honored to be committing myself to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the rest of my NHL career,? Lecavalier said. ?It?s no secret how I feel about the organization, the fans and the Tampa Bay community, and there?s no place else I?d rather be. Combine that with the enthusiasm and commitment to winning that has been shown by owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie, and signing this long-term deal was an easy decision.? [READ] |
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