Last summer, we were shell shocked not once but twice; team captain Vincent Lecavalier was deposed via compliance buyout and then signed a new five-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. It was written on Raw Charge at the time the signing was announced:
Lecavalier has brought himself and his family potential stability in Philadelphia as his contract is purported to have another No Move Clause in it, yet he signs with one of the more dysfunctional and unstable organizations in hockey as well. The Flyers, featuring big holes on defense and in goal, recently bought out Ilya Bryzalov and Daniel Briere to create cap space.
Perhaps the proper term to use wasn’t “dysfunctional” but disloyal? Players are brought in to Philly and thrown away with ease, even after management gives them No Trade or No Move clauses. “Dysfunctional” does apply because, well, look at the Los Angeles Kings and the cogs they acquired by way and via Philadelphia’s roster shuffling from years past.
While Vinny potentially had brought his family stability by way of the contract length, it looks like he’ll learn first-hand how beholden the organization is to its players. Via Darren Dreger and TSN’s Insider Trading:
[…] So the word on the street is yes, Lecavalier most definitely is in play. But keep in mind that he has a no-move clause. I know that his agent Kent Hughes has already talked to Hextall about the possibility of moving his client. There are no specific teams yet, there’s no list, but if they want to move him they are going to have to go to Vinny and identify a specific place.
Vincent recently turned 34 and he’s more suited as a role player now than a top-line center. Still, his leadership is something that should be sought after by clubs who are rebuilding or looking to improve the locker room. I’m not quite sure Lecavalier gets traded as-so-much bought out, though I can see Philly doing everything in their power to avoid that.
Just don’t expect a return to Tampa for Vinny. The Bolts have the position of center filled with the likes of Steven Stamkos, Valtteri Filppula, Tyler Johnson and Nate Thompson, with prospects Vladislav Namestnikov and Cedric Paquette able to step in. Heck, the club expressed interest in converting Jonathan Drouin to center. If they’re beholden to that, it’s going to create roster hijinks in the immediate future as-is.
