An excerpt from the Ottawa Citizen article by the ever amusing and talented James Duthie:


The two teams are definitely talking, and Lecavalier, who just days ago would have never considered leaving Tampa, is now contemplating it.As a hockey fan, I’d love to see it.

Blockbuster deals involving true supserstars are far too rare these days. But if were Bob Gainey, I would proceed with extreme caution.

Tampa wants the world in return for Lecavalier, of that there is little doubt. No one is completely sure of the package begin demanded, though you’ve probably heard the names being tossed around: Higgins, Plekanec, Komaserik, a top-flight prospect (P.K. Subban?), draft picks. Perhaps they’re not asking for all of them. Perhaps they are. Heck, perhaps they’re asking for more.

If it’s either one of the last two, it sounds like too much.

Lecavalier is a wonderful player, certainly among the top handful in the world. But in an age when depth in everything, giving up four (five? Six?) quality assets for one superstar is a massive risk. Especially when that superstar has a new contract that will pay him 85 million dollars over the next decade (the 11-year deal kicks in after next season, and will pay Lecavalier huge dollars until he is 41 years old). In Capland, the country the NHL now resides in, that kind of contract could handicap you for the next decade.