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2006 Turin Olympic Coverage
From the author of Legends of Team Canada and creator of 1972 Summit Series.com

Lecavalier Deal Buzz Of Training Camp Canadian Press 8/17/2005 6:32:39 PM KELOWNA, B.C. (CP) - On the ice, it was the same as always. Martin St. Louis spun around in the corner and fed a perfect pass to linemate Vincent Lecavalier, who one-timed a blast past Roberto Luongo to give Team Red a 1-0 lead Wednesday over Team White at Canada's Olympic hockey camp. Lecavalier added another goal and the Tampa duo was the most dangerous on the ice in the red team's 2-1 scrimmage win in front of soldout crowd of 4,000 at Prospera Place. Off the ice, however, things have been a little awkward since Lecavalier agreed to a $27.5-million US, four-year deal Tuesday. Lecavalier's $6.875-million annual pay has eaten a big chunk out of the Lightning salary cap. It means St. Louis, a restricted free agent who was the last NHLer to be named regular-season MVP, will probably have to sign for less than $5 million a year. Welcome to the new NHL, where friends fight for a piece of the same pie. ''Everybody's doing the math, it's not rocket science to see what it means,'' said fellow Tampa star Brad Richards. ''I'm very good friends with both guys, it's a tough, tough situation - it sucks. There's no other way to put it. ''We've already lost (goalie) Nikolai Khabibulin and now it's going to be a big challenge to get Marty signed.'' Lecavalier would have made $4.375 million during the wiped-out lockout season. St. Louis has been a free agent since Tampa won the Cup. St. Louis was thrilled for his friend's new deal, but clearly steamed at how things are shaping up for him. ''I'm really happy for him, I have no problem with Vinny, I like Vinny,'' said St. Louis. ''It's not Vinny's fault. But does it affect me? Of course it does.'' It didn't on the ice Wednesday, where St. Louis dazzled. He's a good bet to go to Turin, as are Richards and Lecavalier. St. Louis doesn't want his contract situation to affect his chances here this week. But it's on his mind. ''I'd be lying to you if I didn't say it affects me. Of course it does,'' said St. Louis, trying not to reveal his emotions. ''But you have to forget about it when you hit the ice. I'm here to try and make the Olympic team. When I get off the ice, I get on the phone with my agent and try to assess the situation. But when I come to the rink, I try to forget about it.'' Lecavalier had the unenviable position of answering questions about it after practice. ''Marty congratulated me right away,'' said a clearly uncomfortable Lecavalier. ''But with this new CBA, the GMs have a tough job. ''We talked this morning and everything was fine. Marty's a great guy and I hope we play together for a long time.'' The Lightning are at about $30 million right now, still needing to re-sign St. Louis as well as captain Dave Andreychuk and probably a defenceman to replace Brad Lukowich, who joined the Islanders last week. Given that few teams want to go over $37 million in order to leave room for injuries and call-ups, St. Louis is feeling the squeeze. ''Now we're in a cap world, you have to try and fit everybody. It's a tough situation,'' he said. ''I really don't know what I'm going to do.'' The cap has hit several teams hard - including Colorado, Detroit and Toronto - but the Lightning have been hammered after building a Cup champion on a tight budget.  ''It sucks, there was a reason we didn't want a salary cap that low, especially for our team,'' said Richards. ''For some teams it's great, for some teams it sucks. But we're going to have live with it. We've already lost one of the best goalies in the world - which we could have signed without a cap - and now we don't know what's going to happen with our Hart Trophy winner.'' In the long run, the Lecavalier contract could also prevent Tampa from signing Richards, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2004, to a long-term deal unless the Lightning find a way to accommodate a $7-million salary - the kind of money Richards would definitely fetch on the open market. He's a restricted free agent next year after earning $3.4 million this season, but can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2007. St. Louis, meanwhile, has to consider his options. He could ask for a trade, sign a one-year deal and leave via unrestricted free agency next summer, or suck it up and sign a long-term deal under $5 million a season. ''I think right now I'm in a pause mode,'' said St. Louis. ''I have to sit back and analyse the situation and see what's best for me and what's best for the team.'' Ottawa defenceman Wade Redden may soon find himself in a similar position. The Senators are a talented team with big decisions to make next year. Redden and fellow star blue-liner Zdeno Chara are due to become unrestricted free agents. And star winger Marian Hossa is already a restricted free agent. It's doubtful the Sens can fit all three under long-term big-money deals and that's why Redden's name has been mentioned in trade rumours lately. ''Yes, guys are going to have tough decisions to make,'' Redden said Wednesday. ''I'd like to stick in Ottawa, and I think other guys there feel the same way, we've been together a long time and we haven't been able to accomplish our goal. But we feel we have a good chance there. To have to split that up would be a shame. We'll see what happens. I guess the window is closing on us in Ottawa.''

GO CANADA GO!

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