Bill Meltzer: As Expected, No Buyout for Lecavalier

First good for vinny

Termination... Oh happy day

I know it seems impossible but I think they are terminating after the bonus payment. I just can't see him sitting most of the season in the pressbox or 4th line winger. I know people will bring up the money and walking away from it. I think he will have a good idea of destination and take the termination to go prove he can still play. If he wasn't getting all that money from Tampa I might feel different.

I wouldn't think Vinny is all about the money, since he is still getting paid by the Lightning. He can collect his 2 million July 1 and then terminate his contract. He doesn't have to take a huge salary anywhere because of the fact he still has paychecks coming in regularly from Tampa.

A mutual termination seems to be the best course for both teams. Flyers get some cap relief moving forward and Vinny has his options to look around and sign a cheaper deal for a chance to play. It just makes too much sense not to do it.

If he retires after he gets his ridiculous $2 mill bonus, is he still on our cap moving forward?
With the cash buyout from Tampa, and his declining skating speed, I can't understand why he's still trying to play at this point?

If he retires after he gets his ridiculous $2 mill bonus, is he still on our cap moving forward?
With the cash buyout from Tampa, and his declining skating speed, I can't understand why he's still trying to play at this point?
- puckhead17

Because HE still thinks he can play. It's hard for athletes to just admit when they are done. Plus the realization of what to do after your done playing. Why do you think so many athletes have problems after their playing days.

If he retires after he gets his ridiculous $2 mill bonus, is he still on our cap moving forward?
With the cash buyout from Tampa, and his declining skating speed, I can't understand why he's still trying to play at this point?
- puckhead17

I believe he'd only be on our cap for the 2 million paid out in the bonus this year and then nothing going forward if he retired.

The Flyers and Lecavalier can both agree to mutually terminate the contract at any time and nothing would go against the Flyers. But it has been pointed out that since he has the 2 million bonus on July 1, he'd wait until after that to agree to the termination. It gives him the option of still playing and he collects his bonus.

Because HE still thinks he can play. It's hard for athletes to just admit when they are done. Plus the realization of what to do after your done playing. Why do you think so many athletes have problems after their playing days.
- J35Bacher

What to do after his playing days are done?
How about driving to the bank every month to cash his Tampa checks?
This isn't a case of a retired 70's player who had to drive a Limo during the summer to make ends meet.
I understand he would be bored, but I'd rather bored, & rich, than bored, and broke.

I believe he'd only be on our cap for the 2 million paid out in the bonus this year and then nothing going forward if he retired.

The Flyers and Lecavalier can both agree to mutually terminate the contract at any time and nothing would go against the Flyers. But it has been pointed out that since he has the 2 million bonus on July 1, he'd wait until after that to agree to the termination. It gives him the option of still playing and he collects his bonus.
- tjp2033

Only $2mill this year, now I see why they aren't buying him out.
But hoping he agrees to terminate is another thing, unless they already discussed it.

Forgive my confusion but I'm struggling with this idea of 'mutually agreeing to terminate' Lecavalier's contract. I haven't heard of this before. How is this different from a buyout? Would the Flyers not be stuck with the cap hit?

If this is a way out of a contract/cap hit, why haven't we seen this happen elsewhere around the league with other bad contracts? I can think of a few players and teams who would benefit from agreeing to end the contract and have the player walk away as a UFA and the team gets free of the cap hit.

Forgive my confusion but I'm struggling with this idea of 'mutually agreeing to terminate' Lecavalier's contract. I haven't heard of this before. How is this different from a buyout? Would the Flyers not be stuck with the cap hit?

If this is a way out of a contract/cap hit, why haven't we seen this happen elsewhere around the league with other bad contracts? I can think of a few players and teams who would benefit from agreeing to end the contract and have the player walk away as a UFA and the team gets free of the cap hit.
- Coburns_Nose

Kristobal Huet

Forgive my confusion but I'm struggling with this idea of 'mutually agreeing to terminate' Lecavalier's contract. I haven't heard of this before. How is this different from a buyout? Would the Flyers not be stuck with the cap hit?

If this is a way out of a contract/cap hit, why haven't we seen this happen elsewhere around the league with other bad contracts? I can think of a few players and teams who would benefit from agreeing to end the contract and have the player walk away as a UFA and the team gets free of the cap hit.
- Coburns_Nose

Both the player and team need to agree with it. While the team may like to do it to get away from a bad contract, the player has the right to say no. If he knows he won't get anything close to the money he is making under this contract, why would he just give it all away? When its not a ton of money in the scheme of things like Lecavalier and he has limited amount of time left to play, he may be interested in doing it, especially since he still collects a paycheck from Tampa.

Forgive my confusion but I'm struggling with this idea of 'mutually agreeing to terminate' Lecavalier's contract. I haven't heard of this before. How is this different from a buyout? Would the Flyers not be stuck with the cap hit?

If this is a way out of a contract/cap hit, why haven't we seen this happen elsewhere around the league with other bad contracts? I can think of a few players and teams who would benefit from agreeing to end the contract and have the player walk away as a UFA and the team gets free of the cap hit.
- Coburns_Nose

Very few players would willingly walk away from every remaining penny on their multi-million dollar contract. They'd rather be bought out. However, Vinny is already the highest paid player in NHL history, collecting buyout payments from Tampa for many years to come and the Flyers refuse to buy him out (thereby taking a cap hit for six years).

Even if Vinny somehow becomes a UFA, he may have a tough time finding himself another gig. Briere, Heatley, Gomez... I think teams have mostly learned their lesson on reaching into the past for auxiliary offensive support. More likely than not, those kinds of guys are just going to end up as bottom-4 fish out of water.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that mutual termination and retirement may be one in the same for him.

Even if Vinny somehow becomes a UFA, he may have a tough time finding himself another gig. Briere, Heatley, Gomez... I think teams have mostly learned their lesson on reaching into the past for auxiliary offensive support. More likely than not, those kinds of guys are just going to end up as bottom-4 fish out of water.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that mutual termination and retirement may be one in the same for him.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, but there is still a widespread feeling that Vinny can score goals if nothing else given sufficient ice time and playing center on an offense-starved team. The team would have to be willing to put up with defensive liabilities. Then again, Mike Ribeiro is a defensive liability and keeps finding employment despite off-ice issues on top of being a rather one-dimensional player. Vinny is a solid citizen and pro.

Yeah, but there is still a widespread feeling that Vinny can score goals if nothing else given sufficient ice time and playing center on an offense-starved team. The team would have to be willing to put up with defensive liabilities. Then again, Mike Ribeiro is a defensive liability and keeps finding employment despite off-ice issues on top of being a rather one-dimensional player. Vinny is a solid citizen and pro.
- bmeltzer

But Ribeiro scores, (when his head is on straight), he does contribute.
He still has skill, as did Briere, Vinny has obvious skating liabilities, in today's speed, transition game.

What to do after his playing days are done?
How about driving to the bank every month to cash his Tampa checks?
This isn't a case of a retired 70's player who had to drive a Limo during the summer to make ends meet.
I understand he would be bored, but I'd rather bored, & rich, than bored, and broke.
- puckhead17

That's great that you know how it is.

These players have been conditioned for a schedule that has controlled their life. Working out, games, road trips, practice. Then it ends and they have to fill that time. Yeah he could be fine. But it's not like multiple athletes haven't run into problems after they retired.

Yeah, but there is still a widespread feeling that Vinny can score goals if nothing else given sufficient ice time and playing center on an offense-starved team. The team would have to be willing to put up with defensive liabilities. Then again, Mike Ribeiro is a defensive liability and keeps finding employment despite off-ice issues on top of being a rather one-dimensional player. Vinny is a solid citizen and pro.
- bmeltzer

Ribeiro's always been a bit of a jackass, and he's old, but he still hasn't hit a brick wall on the ice yet. Vinny's hit that wall, backed up, and then had himself some seconds.

Vinny has obvious skating liabilities, in today's speed, transition game.
- puckhead17

^ This

Just buy him out. The cap hit on the last 3 years of the buyout is like 800k. Hak shouldn't have to worry about this guy

vinny has been working hard this off season. hired a skating coach, a personal trainer, been doing DDP yoga. I think he will be fine come September and surprise everyone.

Thanks Bill. Salute to the Theriens'. Sad, but hopeful story, and maybe it will encourage more to donate in the future.
I hope that Vinny, and Hexy will come to some sort of arrangement. It's a lose, lose situation, and Vinny needs to move on with some dignity.
It will be interesting to see if the Flyers bring Kimmo on board the management team. Speaking of former Flyers D-men, Coby was an interesting leader during the lock out season. I remember that he organized work outs, and practices. While I was frustrated with his play at times, he did bring a certain type of leadership to the team. But, he seems to still have a lot left in the tank, so I don't think that he will be considering retiring anytime soon. In addition, he, and his wife were quite active in the community.
The point that I was trying to make with Coby was that it's interesting to see many former players calling the Philly area home, or who are still associated with the organization in one way or another.

Very few players would willingly walk away from every remaining penny on their multi-million dollar contract. They'd rather be bought out. However, Vinny is already the highest paid player in NHL history, collecting buyout payments from Tampa for many years to come and the Flyers refuse to buy him out (thereby taking a cap hit for six years).
- bmeltzer

I see Vinny joining the Panthers and being 4 hours from Yampa

Can't buy him out, the first 3 years would carry a cap penalty of 2.9 million. No way they are going to carry 2.9 million of dead space for 3 years