People, within 2 years the cap will be back at 70-75 million anyways so Vinny's cap hit wont be anything. He's still extremely important to the Lightning, and not only because of how much he means to the community. When Vinny went down with injury, Boucher didn't have anyone to count on to win important faceoffs... Vinny's faceoff abilities are worth a lot to this team. Stammer really needs to work on that.
Vinny's leadership is also incredibly important with all those young kids the team is grooming into winners... SAy what you want about Vinny, but the guy is a winner. Noone else I would rather have than Vinny teaching the youth how to win.
- TBolts4

The lightning have to buy out Vinny, his contract is just too bad for too long. The fact is that the lightning are rebuilding (you are drafting #3 this year) around Stamkos and Hedman. This team still needs to develop a young core and as long as vinny's contract is on the lightning books you wont be able to afford the depth that this team will need to make the playoffs.

Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to take 2 steps forwards.

Buying out Vinny is a non-starter IMO, here is your franchise's all-time leading everything (2nd actually behind Marty in assists & pts) at the forward position. He's been the face of the franchise and the captain for the better part of 13 seasons, has anyone in the league currently been the captain of their team longer?

Ohlund on LTIR and buying out Malone make the most sense, that gives Yzerman some breathing room to fill out the rest of the roster either by injecting some youth or adding a player via trade or free agency.

I still maintain that SY has a lot of pressure on him with the talent on that roster to produce better on-ice results!

Yes, went to the ECF in 2010-11. Like you said, he's a tweener (2L/3L) on a decent team and probably a third liner on a contending team. Your assessment is pretty spot on.
- Michael_Stuart

what are his leadership skills like .... would he be a good mentor for the young players that Ottawa has, or a bad example??

what are his leadership skills like .... would he be a good mentor for the young players that Ottawa has, or a bad example??
- GadesnSens

Quite possibly one of the better locker-room guys around (I can only go based on what I've heard). He's likable, and a funny guy too. It's a shame he's always injured. I really like the guy.

The lightning have to buy out Vinny, his contract is just too bad for too long. The fact is that the lightning are rebuilding (you are drafting #3 this year) around Stamkos and Hedman. This team still needs to develop a young core and as long as vinny's contract is on the lightning books you wont be able to afford the depth that this team will need to make the playoffs.

Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to take 2 steps forwards.
- Meeqsb

In a few years, that argument might hold true. Right now, though, it just doesn't. There are other (read: better) ways for the team to generate the necessary cap space.

Buying out Vinny is a non-starter IMO, here is your franchise's all-time leading everything (2nd actually behind Marty in assists & pts) at the forward position. He's been the face of the franchise and the captain for the better part of 13 seasons, has anyone in the league currently been the captain of their team longer?

Ohlund on LTIR and buying out Malone make the most sense, that gives Yzerman some breathing room to fill out the rest of the roster either by injecting some youth or adding a player via trade or free agency.

I still maintain that SY has a lot of pressure on him with the talent on that roster to produce better on-ice results!
- LeftCoaster

I'd agree with this. There's always pressure, but to me this is the season when it really starts. The re-build, up until this point, has gone as good as (if not better than) hoped. The next two years are about turning all the pieces into one winning group.

The lightning have to buy out Vinny, his contract is just too bad for too long. The fact is that the lightning are rebuilding (you are drafting #3 this year) around Stamkos and Hedman. This team still needs to develop a young core and as long as vinny's contract is on the lightning books you wont be able to afford the depth that this team will need to make the playoffs.

Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to take 2 steps forwards.
- Meeqsb

Buying Vinny would be taking 4 steps back and none forward. Yeah you gain cap space but now you have to replace a 2nd line center AND get a dman... Where are you going to find a 2nd line center? None of the rising young guys are ready, and nothing on free agent list that wouldn't cost 5-6-7 million anyways. So you would have to trade for him. Then your giving up more assets and chances are the 2nd line center you get will make at least 5mil. So you get rid of Vinny and a guy extremely important to the community, plus you lose some young assets to get a second line center via trade that will only save you about 2mil on the cap?
I dont see that as a viable option sorry

Buying Vinny would be taking 4 steps back and none forward. Yeah you gain cap space but now you have to replace a 2nd line center AND get a dman... Where are you going to find a 2nd line center? None of the rising young guys are ready, and nothing on free agent list that wouldn't cost 5-6-7 million anyways. So you would have to trade for him. Then your giving up more assets and chances are the 2nd line center you get will make at least 5mil. So you get rid of Vinny and a guy extremely important to the community, plus you lose some young assets to get a second line center via trade that will only save you about 2mil on the cap?
I dont see that as a viable option sorry
- TBolts4

Bingo.

Buying out Vinny is a non-starter IMO, here is your franchise's all-time leading everything (2nd actually behind Marty in assists & pts) at the forward position. He's been the face of the franchise and the captain for the better part of 13 seasons, has anyone in the league currently been the captain of their team longer?
Ohlund on LTIR and buying out Malone make the most sense, that gives Yzerman some breathing room to fill out the rest of the roster either by injecting some youth or adding a player via trade or free agency.

I still maintain that SY has a lot of pressure on him with the talent on that roster to produce better on-ice results!
- LeftCoaster

Alfie baby!

Alfie baby!
- Raven33

One of my all-time favorites.

Alfie baby!
- Raven33

Oh ya, forgot about that old timer.

TRADE VINNY TO TORONTO.

... and give us a top prospect and or your 1st round pick 3rd overall (Which I don't see you doing because you want to draft Drouin) for taking him and his huge contract off of your hands...

In return we'll give you Tyler Bozak (who is a UFA that you can sign for less and fill your #2 Centre position), Mike Komesarik (I know he is our buyout but because we take on Vinny's contract you have to take him in return. He only has 1 year left and can be a stop gap or a buyout for Tampa which will cost them a lot less then buying out Vinny) and Jerry D'Amigo a decent prospect to help in TBay's rebuild!

Or some other players and or prospects from the Leafs roster... but nothing very high end due to takling on Vinny's contract!!!

TRADE VINNY TO TORONTO.

... and give us a top prospect and or your 1st overall pick (WHich I don't see you doing because you want to draft Drouin) for taking him and his huge contract off of your hands...

In return we'll give you Tyler Bozak (who is a UFA that you can sign for less and fill your #2 Centre position), Mike Komesarik (I know he is our buyout but because we take on Vinny's contract you have to take him in return. He only has 1 year left and can be a stop gap or a buyout for Tampa which will cost them a lot less then buying out Vinny) and Jerry D'Amigo a decent prospect to help in TBay's rebuild!

Or some other players and or prospects from the Leafs roster... but nothing very high end due to takling on Vinny's contract!!!
- t_leafs21

never fails???

never fails???
- LeftCoaster

LoL

Says the Vancouver fan whose team was trying to dump their goalie problem on our team for a HUGE PREMIUM.....

Now that's a joke

Alfie baby!
- Raven33

Alfie.... is a piece of (frank)ing shiznit... and a dirty player to boot... just like Karrlesson..... Not just saying this as a Leafs fan.. saying it as a hockey fan.

Talented players no doubt but grimmy dirty players too.

TRADE VINNY TO TORONTO.

... and give us a top prospect and or your 1st round pick 3rd overall (Which I don't see you doing because you want to draft Drouin) for taking him and his huge contract off of your hands...

In return we'll give you Tyler Bozak (who is a UFA that you can sign for less and fill your #2 Centre position), Mike Komesarik (I know he is our buyout but because we take on Vinny's contract you have to take him in return. He only has 1 year left and can be a stop gap or a buyout for Tampa which will cost them a lot less then buying out Vinny) and Jerry D'Amigo a decent prospect to help in TBay's rebuild!

Or some other players and or prospects from the Leafs roster... but nothing very high end due to takling on Vinny's contract!!!
- t_leafs21

Or something a little more reasonable.

Liles, 21st overall, Colborne, two 2nds, and Matt Finn

for Lecav, Malone, and 3rd overall

TRADE VINNY TO TORONTO.

... and give us a top prospect and or your 1st round pick 3rd overall (Which I don't see you doing because you want to draft Drouin) for taking him and his huge contract off of your hands...

In return we'll give you Tyler Bozak (who is a UFA that you can sign for less and fill your #2 Centre position), Mike Komesarik (I know he is our buyout but because we take on Vinny's contract you have to take him in return. He only has 1 year left and can be a stop gap or a buyout for Tampa which will cost them a lot less then buying out Vinny) and Jerry D'Amigo a decent prospect to help in TBay's rebuild!

Or some other players and or prospects from the Leafs roster... but nothing very high end due to takling on Vinny's contract!!!
- t_leafs21

What do they put in the water up there for you people to come up with this poop?

Or something a little more reasonable.

Liles, 21st overall, Colborne, two 2nds, and Matt Finn

for Lecav, Malone, and 3rd overall
- Viktory

Not interested. Only way the #3 pick goes is for a young premium d-man. Not for a lot of extra pieces or secondary players

Or something a little more reasonable.

Liles, 21st overall, Colborne, two 2nds, and Matt Finn

for Lecav, Malone, and 3rd overall
- Viktory

TRADE VINNY TO TORONTO.

... and give us a top prospect and or your 1st round pick 3rd overall (Which I don't see you doing because you want to draft Drouin) for taking him and his huge contract off of your hands...

In return we'll give you Tyler Bozak (who is a UFA that you can sign for less and fill your #2 Centre position), Mike Komesarik (I know he is our buyout but because we take on Vinny's contract you have to take him in return. He only has 1 year left and can be a stop gap or a buyout for Tampa which will cost them a lot less then buying out Vinny) and Jerry D'Amigo a decent prospect to help in TBay's rebuild!

Or some other players and or prospects from the Leafs roster... but nothing very high end due to takling on Vinny's contract!!!
- t_leafs21

Why wouldn't we just keep a 60+ point producing Lecavalier and add a great prospect in Drouin or Nichushkin? You're suggesting that we give that up to take on a third line center in Bozak and Mike Komisarek....

Or something a little more reasonable.

Liles, 21st overall, Colborne, two 2nds, and Matt Finn

for Lecav, Malone, and 3rd overall
- Viktory

No thanks.

Lol. Why would TB trade Vinny, when they can just buy him out? If Leafs want that 3rd overall pick, get ready to give up Gardiner, their 1st, and a top-6 forward.

Only way Yzerman even turns on his phone for Nonis is if Nonis is willing to start the conversation with Gardiner and a 1st.

via the chicago blogger

"First, I heard a rumor out of Canada on Monday (very good source) that the Leafs have offered two mid-level roster players and a package of draft picks for Tampa Bay’s 3rd selection overall and Vincent LeCavalier, who would then be bought out.

Not making it up—I wouldn’t pretend to know enough about either team to do so. Good source, take it for what it is."

imagine trading him, then him being bought out just to be resigned for like 3-4 mil

Lol. Why would TB trade Vinny, when they can just buy him out? If Leafs want that 3rd overall pick, get ready to give up Gardiner, their 1st, and a top-6 forward.

Only way Yzerman even turns on his phone for Nonis is if Nonis is willing to start the conversation with Gardiner and a 1st.
- dlachine

tampa's pockets arent nearly as deep as torontos