Systemfel 33 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 The final touches are still being worked on and nothing can be formally announced until July 1, but sources tell TSN the Tampa Bay Lightning and superstar centre Vinny Lecavalier have agreed to terms on a mega-deal that will pay him $77 million over nine years. http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241633&lid...os=topStory_nhl Wow. Really thought that Vinny would hit the market in 2009. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 (edited) http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241633&lid...os=topStory_nhl Wow. Really thought that Vinny would hit the market in 2009. Apparently they are all set with Smith being their netminder and not having anyone on defense. WOW they have some issues at the forward position http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?tea...amp;season=0809 Edited June 25, 2008 by Opie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stud_defenseman 1 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 Good move by Tampa. This guy has been consistently one of the best players in the league every year. This will pretty much ensure that his name gets retired in Tampa bar some sort of disaster. I imagine this will bring up Zetterberg's salary. I doubt he will sign for such a long period though, im thinking max 7 years, but he will bring in a bit more money than Pav now. I'm guessing somewhere around 6 years 48 million for Z. Any lower than 45 million for the same term would be expecting him to be taking a big discount. Buuuut, I guess you also need to take into account the fact that he is not the healthiest player so who knows. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IceMunkee 15 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 Wow! I agree I thought he would test the market. There has been alot of changes in the right direction, or atleast a hopeful direction. Honestly I am happy it is $8.5 (give or take), that does not seem like to much. Maybe .5 to much but for nine years it will be a good deal. I hope that Hank signs for less but lets face it, he probably won't so if the Vinny deal is like a measuring stick it is not horrible. It is a little unsettling that Hank will have to make so much more then Datsyuk, but hey that is the cap world. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 Great deal for both Vinny and Tampa Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 $8.5M is a fair deal for Lecavalier. I wouldn't have been surprised if that's what Z signed for either, not even before the Lecav deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 Fair is the best way of putting this deal, but they really need to start spending some of their money on solid second pairing Dmen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dump-N-Thump Report post Posted June 25, 2008 I have a hard time justifying signing players for that much money. But he is a stud you cant deny that.. so mer i dont know howi feel about it.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 (edited) Tampa continues to screw itself with large deals. 8 Forwards under contract for this upcoming season and they are at 36.6 this year. Forwards under contract: Vinny 7.1 this season St. Louis 5 --> 4 -->4 UFA Halpern 2 --> 2 UFA Jokinnen 1.8 RFA Ouellet 1.3 UFA Ward .7 UFA Tarnasky .525 --> .550 RFA Jones .510 RFA That is it folks no more no less, they still have the rights to Prospal and to sign him is not going to be cheap. Their D while there are enough bodies I wouldn't exactly call them a deep defensive team: Boyle 6.667 5years (holy overpayment) Kuba 3 UFA Lukowich 1.65 --> 1.8 UFA O'Brien 1.125 RFA Ranger .95 --> 1.1 RFA Picard .75 --> .85 RFA Lundin .738 RFA Smaby .825 RFA Smith .95 UFA Ramu .725 RFA While yes Vinny is a great player and extremely talented this was not a smart business move, this pretty much sinks them after this season. They will have him for roughly 8.5 mil St. Louis for 4 mil Halpern for 2 mil Tarnasky for .550 Boyle for 6.66 Lukowich for 1.8 Ranger for 1.1 and Picard for .85 and NO goaltender. That is 23.66 wrapped up in 8 players, no netminder 4 forwards 4 D. That is not a good situation, I am not saying walk away from an all world talent, but now the team is hamstrung. They will have two very talented players in Vinny and St. Louis and a bunch of mediocre talent. And that is not including Prospal and the players they will need to fill out this years roster. Edited June 25, 2008 by Opie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank Dats 'N Homer 81 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? Dont get me wrong this is a great deal for both sides. Tampa gets the star they get in Vinny and Vinny gets the money he deserves but....hes now stuck in Tampa for hte next 9 years. Lets hope Melrose and new ownership can turn the orgo around so Vinny isnt trapped in a dead end orgo. Although he does have a cup under his belt so maybe he just wants to stay with whats comfortable for him. I thought once Tampa dealt long time best friend Brad Richards that Vinny would hold out for free agency and go elsewhere. But ive been so very wrong before! haha. Good for both sides, kind of sucks for us because now Z is going to get a ridiculous offer....although he does deserve it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwinger4747 6 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 This deal wont affect Zetterberg's contract. Holland has his own policy. I'm sure he will say "other teams overpay for players, we win championships" and wont throw 8.5mil at Zetterberg. Datsyuk's contract will go a long way to keeping Z's salary around 7-7.5mil. I absolutely love Z, but the difference between him and Dats is small. I'd prefer to see Z around 7mil and I think Holland will make it happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenrikRules40 14 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 There goes my dream of seeing Vinny behind the winged wheel. Ah well I'll settle for Conn Smythe winner Henrik Zetterberg. I, for one, would give Z $8.5. But I'm thoroughly and unreasonably biased. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 There goes my dream of seeing Vinny behind the winged wheel. Ah well I'll settle for Conn Smythe winner Henrik Zetterberg. I, for one, would give Z $8.5. But I'm thoroughly and unreasonably biased. I am sure there are a bunch of GM's in the league that would gladly give him that as well! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryMalredo 2 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 At least we won't have to ever hear those stupid Lecavalier to the Habs rumors. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 Am I going to get all sorts of crap again for insinuating the East values forwards more than defencemen? There are a lot of differences, but their future cap situation is a large reason why I think Datsyuk + Zetterberg + Hossa (all long term) will hobble the rest of the team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeeRYCE 2 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 8.5M for Lecavalier now is good, but will he be worth it in 9 years when he's 37? It's tough to say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 8.5M for Lecavalier now is good, but will he be worth it in 9 years when he's 37? It's tough to say. In today's cap world he would not be worth it at 37, but in 9 years that number might take up only 10% o the cap. It's a pretty good deal for both sides... unless he turns into a Havlat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevie for president 42 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 A few things, Z isnt the player vinny is, imo. I think z is worth between 7 and 7.5 and this signing only proves it to me. I think St. Louis is pretty much out of tampa now with Stampkos, Prospal, and Vinny, unless the cap continues this trend and is around 60 mil when st. louis contract expires. if the cap continues to go up and is at 64 about 6-7 years from now, this is a good signing. if it stays at 56 or drops, this can potentially hurt the bolts. I hope they address long term deals in the next CBA. Say revenues go down and the cap goes back to 51, tampa is royally screwed. Also, say revenues go up and the cap is at 66mil and the basement is at 50 mil. i think a lot of teams would operte in the red if they had to spend 50mil on player salaries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevieY9802 6 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 This is a good deal for both sides. Tampa needed him to stay there. Some people were saying oh it's too long of a deal, thats what you have to do these days. The players seem to want good money and security rather than huge money and short term and the teams want these guys long term because what if he signs a 2 year deal for 8.5 and then his type of players start getting even bigger money when his contract is up? And someone said they have no D well they do have Boyle and wouldn't have him if they would have kept Richards. They do need someone on that second pairing though. And they need to hope Smith works out, he should be an upgrade over what they had though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slave 31 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 when datys first signed his contract it looked like a lot, now he is an awesome deal and locked up for the future Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 This is a good deal for both sides. Tampa needed him to stay there. Some people were saying oh it's too long of a deal, thats what you have to do these days. The players seem to want good money and security rather than huge money and short term and the teams want these guys long term because what if he signs a 2 year deal for 8.5 and then his type of players start getting even bigger money when his contract is up? And someone said they have no D well they do have Boyle and wouldn't have him if they would have kept Richards. They do need someone on that second pairing though. And they need to hope Smith works out, he should be an upgrade over what they had though. They have 2 all star forwards, one overpaid decent D man and a back up goalie they are hoping can be a starter. They don't just need a second pairing d man they need 4 nhl caliber d men at least one of them being a top 3 d-man if not needing 2 top 3 dmen. They currently have 8 forwards under contract for this year and 8 players for next year. This team is in a bad way, Stamkos will be cheap, if he doesn't pull a Lindros. Like I said earlier they would look like asses letting him go, but look at next year, no goaltender, 2 great forwards, and one decent D man. There were better more important ways to spend this money, but I agree they really had to sign him, or they would be in a worse situation, but at least they would have money to fill out their roster. Over 23 million tied up in 8 players next season, they will need at least 9 forwards and 3 dmen, plus 2 goaltenders. Granted they may be able to get that done with some of their RFA's but they will have no 2nd line, let alone a third line, and they will have no 2nd pairing or 3rd pairing and they will have no goaltender and no back up at the end of this coming season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 While yes Vinny is a great player and extremely talented this was not a smart business move, this pretty much sinks them after this season. They will have him for roughly 8.5 mil St. Louis for 4 mil Halpern for 2 mil Tarnasky for .550 Boyle for 6.66 Lukowich for 1.8 Ranger for 1.1 and Picard for .85 and NO goaltender. That is 23.66 wrapped up in 8 players, no netminder 4 forwards 4 D. That is not a good situation, I am not saying walk away from an all world talent, but now the team is hamstrung. They will have two very talented players in Vinny and St. Louis and a bunch of mediocre talent. And that is not including Prospal and the players they will need to fill out this years roster. That's not so bad. When Z signs his extension the Wings will probably have about 25% of their cap wrapped up in two players. 40% in three players. Over half in four players. Similar to what the Lightning have, and nobody would say we're hamstrung. Pick 8 players off our team, including our top three paid (after Z's extension), and our cap situation looks the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 (edited) Yet the wings have players like Kronwall Ralfalski, it is not so much the money tied up it is the talent that they have tied up in that money. They have next to nothing after the first line and the #1 d-man who would be #3 at best on the wings. Edited June 25, 2008 by Opie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 A few things, Z isnt the player vinny is, imo. I think z is worth between 7 and 7.5 and this signing only proves it to me. I think St. Louis is pretty much out of tampa now with Stampkos, Prospal, and Vinny, unless the cap continues this trend and is around 60 mil when st. louis contract expires. if the cap continues to go up and is at 64 about 6-7 years from now, this is a good signing. if it stays at 56 or drops, this can potentially hurt the bolts. I hope they address long term deals in the next CBA. Say revenues go down and the cap goes back to 51, tampa is royally screwed. Also, say revenues go up and the cap is at 66mil and the basement is at 50 mil. i think a lot of teams would operte in the red if they had to spend 50mil on player salaries. You're right....Z's way better defensively. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 In today's cap world he would not be worth it at 37, but in 9 years that number might take up only 10% o the cap. It's a pretty good deal for both sides... unless he turns into a Havlat. You need to look out 10 years at the age of 38 since the contract doesn't kick in until after next year. It looks like a fair deal right now, but there is plenty of risk. Is there going to be decline at the age of 35, 36, 37, 38? We assume the cap will keep going up, but there is a chance the cap will actually be LOWER 10 years from now, you never know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
