NHL Rumors: Philadelphia Flyers to trade Lecavalier?
By Cory Buck
The Philadelphia Flyers have a steaming mess of a player payroll. After years of seemingly signing or trading for every aged defenseman or forward available, the Flyers are trying to shed some of their longer term contracts in favor of younger, cheaper players with deals more palatable for the future. So the latest rumors of the team wanting to trade 34-year old Vincent Lecavalier should come as a surprise to no one.
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TSN first discussed the possibility and insider Darren Dreger elaborated on the situation.
"But keep in mind that [Lecavalier] 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."
The other major hurdle to dealing Lecavalier would be the center’s contract. He still has four years remaining on a contract that pays him $4.5 million per year. After ending last season averaging fewer than 11 minutes/game, GM Ron Hextall will have a hard sell to make if he’s going to A) Find a team interested in Lecavalier then B) sell Lecavalier on waiving his no-move clause to facilitate said trade.
The former Tampa Bay captain isn’t getting any younger and Lecavalier likely has no interest in playing for a team outside the playoff picture, which limits the flexibility available for a deal. The top tier teams have their own cap issues and they will likely not want to risk much for a shot at an aging Vincent Lecavalier. If they do however, expect that move to come at the NHL draft, when many teams are expected to be wheeling and dealing.