Should the Tampa Bay Lightning trade Vincent Lecavlier at the deadline?
Answer: Absolutely not
Vincent Lecavalier is at the trough of his value. Last April, the Quebec native underwent season-ending wrist surgery. Since returning, he has not been the same. Lecavalier has 13 goals on this campaign. He is on pace to light the lamp only 21 times and notch 77 points. While these numbers are not atrocious, they certainly do not justify his $7.7 million salary cap hit.
He is under contract for another six seasons and has a no-movement clause. As such, Tampa has few potential trading partners. This week, a rumor surfaced that the New York Rangers and Lightning were talking about a deal that would send Wade Redden to the west coast of Florida and Vinny to the Big Apple. Put simply, in any Lecavalier trade scenario, general manager Brian Lawton would have to take on an albatross of a contract to move the underachieving former NHL goals leader. The twenty-nine year old has more upside than any of the players that would be part of a transaction.
Trading Lecavalier would not be a “salary dump.” No team can afford to take on his salary, unless it sheds existing cap consumers. Right now, moving Lecavlier would be a step in the wrong direction. However, if this season proves to be an aberration, Lawton should, at the very least, consider dealing Lecavalier.
