The Philadelphia Flyers have made the biggest splash of the NHL free agency period so far, inking former Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier to a five-year, $22.5 million deal, according to reports.
Last season Lecavalier scored 10 goals in 39 games to go with 22 assists, totaling 32 points on the season. Lecavalier, 33, is a long time removed from his outstanding 2006-2007 campaign in Tampa Bay in which he scored a whopping 108 points, including 53 goals. Still, 32 points in 39 games is nothing to sneeze at, especially for contenders looking for the "missing piece" to their championship puzzles.
Lecavalier has spent all 14 years of his NHL career with the Lightning, scoring 32 goals for the 2004 Stanley Cup winning group, but the contract he commanded just did not fit in with Tampa Bay's plan going forward. Tampa Bay bought out Lecavalier's contract this offseason, and saved themselves a hefty $7.7 million in salary cap space.
ESPN reports that as many as 15 teams were interested in signing Lecavalier, including the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
However, the two strongest contenders for his services, outside of Philadelphia of course, were the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. Lecavalier and the Lightning defeated the Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals the year Tampa Bay took home the Cup.
Lecavalier's signing does not solve Philadelphia's defensive woes, though, or their lack of a quality reserve goaltender. In addition, it gives them very little room to work with in terms of the salary cap. Lecavalier's deal also includes a no-move clause, according to Pierre LeBrun, which means he cannot be traded or demoted to the minors without consent.
The no-move clause does not, however, prevent the Flyers from buying out his contract.
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