Speculation: Lecavalier?

[Chelios]

Just saw Lecavalier has been bought out. Have to wonder if, since he is getting paid regardless, he takes less money to play with a contender. Would be the perfect 2nd line centre on this team for the right price.

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[TorMenT]

Just saw Lecavalier has been bought out. Have to wonder if, since he is getting paid regardless, he takes less money to play with a contender. Would be the perfect 2nd line centre on this team for the right price.

If he'd sign for relatively cheap, he'd be a good solution for 2C. He would provide more depth at our weakest position.

 

[ColdSteel2]

Yeah, this guy would be a huge addition. He has a Cup though, makes me think he might be ready to go close to home (Montreal). Who knows though.

 

[Fortyfives]

So would you sign him over Bickell? I don't have enough hockey knowledge to say yes or no but it's interesting! Him between sharp and Hossa? Yes please!

 

[ColdSteel2]

So would you sign him over Bickell? I don't have enough hockey knowledge to say yes or no but it's interesting! Him between sharp and Hossa? Yes please!

That's tough. I think Vinny would help more next season for sure, but after that, it would start to go toward BB. Short term, Vinny, long term, BB. Real tough call. I'd stick with BB and try Pirri at 2C but I could see how you could go the other way.

 

[Thucydides]

I don't think he will sign for less than four million per year.

How are we going to fit this guy under the cap? Is it even possible, considering we need to sign Bickell, Leddy, etc.

 

[Hawkaholic]

He'll be too expensive.

I would rather keep Bickell.

 

[Fortyfives]

With these buyouts happening there are some ridiculous value deals to be made if a player is willing. Bowman needs to make some magic this season to get 2015. If he can do that the cap will go up and toews/kane deals can easily be made.

 

[Chelios]

That's tough. I think Vinny would help more next season for sure, but after that, it would start to go toward BB. Short term, Vinny, long term, BB. Real tough call. I'd stick with BB and try Pirri at 2C but I could see how you could go the other way.

At the same price the answer is Lecavalier without question. I absolutely love what Bickell did for us in the playoffs, but the reality is that he has shown flashes of brilliance before only to disappear for long stretches. Lecavalier fills our single biggest need: a 2nd line centre. He is still only 33, and should have a good 4-5 productive years left in him.

Now that the buy outs have been announced rumours will start flying around Montreal and Toronto, but I really think that Chicago must look like a pretty attractive option for Lecavalier. Unlike the aforementioned teams, he would not be relied upon to be "the guy", would be surrounded by talented wingers, and would have a much better chance at another cup.

 

[Chelios]

He'll be too expensive.

I would rather keep Bickell.

That really is what it hinges on. You wonder though if he would consider signing a cheap deal in Chicago for a year or two in the hopes of boosting his value for one more big contract.

 

[TorMenT]

The buyout money really helps make a contending team look more intriguing to him. He's still getting paid what the Lightning owe him, so taking less to play on the Blackhawks + his money from the lightning is still a raise from what he was expecting prior to getting bought out.

 

[TorMenT]

I guess u don't know enough about him though. Is he one of those guys that wants a cup more than anything? Or does he care about being by family/location? Or does he care about money?

 

[ColdSteel2]

It would be nice if he signed a 1 year, 2M deal.

 

[helicon1]

He'd be perfect. I'm surprised that he's actually been around between a 60-70 point pace these past few years. Usually better than 50% at faceoffs too. Age aside if you were to come up with the ideal center to put between Hossa and Sharp he'd be close to it. It's unlikely he'd take a significant paycut to come here though.

 

[giza]

LeCavalier

Guys like Vinny who have made their money, but still haven't lifted the Cup and are running out of time to do so are probably willing to trade in some cash and come to a team like the Hawks who have a better than decent chance of winning the Cup.

 

[ColdSteel2]

Guys like Vinny who have made their money, but still haven't lifted the Cup and are running out of time to do so are probably willing to trade in some cash and come to a team like the Hawks who have a better than decent chance of winning the Cup.

He won in 04, so I don't know if that is a priority anymore.

 

[Chelios]

Guys like Vinny who have made their money, but still haven't lifted the Cup and are running out of time to do so are probably willing to trade in some cash and come to a team like the Hawks who have a better than decent chance of winning the Cup.

He has already won a cup. Question is how badly does he want to win another.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Guys like Vinny who have made their money, but still haven't lifted the Cup and are running out of time to do so are probably willing to trade in some cash and come to a team like the Hawks who have a better than decent chance of winning the Cup.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

I can't believe he's only 33. Forgot how young he started.

 

[MagicSlap*]

Yeah, we won't be able to afford him. Guy still puts up great numbers, he was just making FAR too much money. He'll sign for like 5-6 somewhere.

 

[Sevanston]

My bet is that he ends up either in Montreal or else somewhere warm and sunny like the Panthers or California.

Not much else teams can offer to separate themselves from the pack, given his fat bank account and his Cup ring.

 

[Spectra]

I seriously doubt we can afford him.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

For ***** and giggles

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Bryan Bickell ($3.500m) / Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Patrick Kane ($6.300m)
Patrick Sharp ($5.900m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($3.750m) / Marian Hossa ($5.275m)
Brandon Saad ($0.894m) / Andrew Shaw ($0.578m) / Jeremy Morin ($0.887m)
Daniel Carcillo ($0.825m) / Marcus Kruger ($1.250m) / Ben Smith ($0.563m)
Brandon Bollig ($0.575m)
DEFENSEMEN
Brent Seabrook ($5.800m) / Duncan Keith ($5.538m)
Niklas Hjalmarsson ($3.500m) / Johnny Oduya ($3.383m)
Michal Rozsival ($2.000m) / Nick Leddy ($2.000m)
Sheldon Brookbank ($1.250m)
GOALTENDERS
Corey Crawford ($2.667m)
Antti Raanta ($1.400m)
OTHER
Buyout: Steve Montador ($0.000m)
Buyout: Rostislav Olesz ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,134,295; BONUSES: $642,500
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $808,205

 

[HawksFan37]

For ***** and giggles

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Bryan Bickell ($3.500m) / Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Patrick Kane ($6.300m)
Patrick Sharp ($5.900m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($3.750m) / Marian Hossa ($5.275m)
Brandon Saad ($0.894m) / Andrew Shaw ($0.578m) / Jeremy Morin ($0.887m)
Daniel Carcillo ($0.825m) / Marcus Kruger ($1.250m) / Ben Smith ($0.563m)
Brandon Bollig ($0.575m)
DEFENSEMEN
Brent Seabrook ($5.800m) / Duncan Keith ($5.538m)
Niklas Hjalmarsson ($3.500m) / Johnny Oduya ($3.383m)
Michal Rozsival ($2.000m) / Nick Leddy ($2.000m)
Sheldon Brookbank ($1.250m)
GOALTENDERS
Corey Crawford ($2.667m)
Antti Raanta ($1.400m)
OTHER
Buyout: Steve Montador ($0.000m)
Buyout: Rostislav Olesz ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,134,295; BONUSES: $642,500
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $808,205

Interesting.

Could even ship out Brookbank and use Stanton as the 7th Dman to save a few extra hundred thousand $.

 

[YKYW]

For ***** and giggles

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Bryan Bickell ($3.500m) / Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Patrick Kane ($6.300m)
Patrick Sharp ($5.900m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($3.750m) / Marian Hossa ($5.275m)
Brandon Saad ($0.894m) / Andrew Shaw ($0.578m) / Jeremy Morin ($0.887m)
Daniel Carcillo ($0.825m) / Marcus Kruger ($1.250m) / Ben Smith ($0.563m)
Brandon Bollig ($0.575m)
DEFENSEMEN
Brent Seabrook ($5.800m) / Duncan Keith ($5.538m)
Niklas Hjalmarsson ($3.500m) / Johnny Oduya ($3.383m)
Michal Rozsival ($2.000m) / Nick Leddy ($2.000m)
Sheldon Brookbank ($1.250m)
GOALTENDERS
Corey Crawford ($2.667m)
Antti Raanta ($1.400m)
OTHER
Buyout: Steve Montador ($0.000m)
Buyout: Rostislav Olesz ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,134,295; BONUSES: $642,500
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $808,205

Copy, Paste, Send to Stan Bowman.

Anyone know what the trailer the Lightning will be giving him? I missed SC this morning but knowing the Flyers are paying Bryz 1.4 mil for the next forever leads me to believe Lecavalier could be had for the above 3.75 mil if he's getting a mil a year from Tampa. Add in the likelihood of playoff money and possible SC ring/bonus could be enough to get him here.

Would love him.