It would have been hard to blame Vincent Lecavalier for deciding that it was time retire earlier this year.
By Christmas he had only dressed seven times on a struggling Philadelphia Flyers squad. The only exciting thing to happen all season was being asked if he’d waive his no-trade clause in a Jan. 6 deal with the Los Angeles Kings
Lecavalier informed Kings GM Dean Lombardi that he would forego the $6 million he was still owed over the next two seasons to retire at season’s end. The deal was spawned to give Lecavalier a chance to finish his career playing regularly.
More importantly, it gave the 35-year-old one last shot at winning another Stanley Cup.
Darryl Sutter can do that for a guy, as he has tried in the past with proven veterans.
“The first conversation Darryl and I had is he wanted to know if I wanted to play a third line role and obviously I did,” said Lecavalier, who hadn’t played a third line role since his rookie season in 1998, shortly after he was drafted first overall.
“Obviously we have the (Anze) Kopitars and (Jeff) Carters that can go up and down the ice and are unbelievable players. But with the support system and great coaching staff here, every line is playing the same and that’s why I think this team is so good. I’ve played for a lot of different coaches but this team plays really well together and it’s gone well from the beginning. I definitely feel good now.”
Suffice it to say the trade, which included veteran defenceman Luke Schenn for a prospect and third-round pick, has paid off handsomely for the Kings, who just set a franchise record for most wins (47) in a season.
While many scoffed at the early January deal, it shouldn’t be surprising that Sutter has made it work given how many times he has gone down this path with fading stars.
“I went through that with guys like Denis Savard,” said Sutter, who welcomed back the longtime NHLer in 1994-95. “Vinny has been awesome. I think if they’re proven guys and character guys and good background guys it can work. We lost two veteran centremen (Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll) who won two Cups for us so there was a big hole that was there last year for the most part too. He’s come in and filled that gap and filled that three/four hole for us.”
“I like those types of guys who have had great careers and still have the desire to play at a high level again if they can accept a role.”
Sutter’s coaching and managing history shows a penchant for bringing in veterans with hopes of tapping into past experiences and rekindling their careers. It’s paid off with various degrees of success.
In Calgary, he hoped to re-stoke fires in players like Tony Amonte and Darren McCarty. He even took a chance on bringing coach Mike Keenan back. In Los Angeles, the list includes bringing in Robyn Regehr and Rob Scuderi, which paved the way for the Lecavalier and Schenn additions.
“He (Sutter) believes in giving those (veteran) guys another chance to play a role, but also wants to add depth because in the playoffs you can never have enough of it,” said Regehr.
As one of the highest paid players in NHL history – earning more than $145 million – the talents of the six-foot-four, 215-pound Lecavalier are no secret around the league. Sutter saw first-hand how hard the centre wanted to win in the 2004 Stanley Cup final when the Lightning captain willed his club to a seven-game series victory over Sutter’s Flames.
“I think what’s overlooked with Vinny is how great a player he’s been in his career and that he’s been part of a championship,” said Sutter, who generally uses the former 50-goal scorer for roughly 13 minutes a night.
“There’s a reason great players are great players and that’s because he’s a great competitor. He’s still got that desire. A coach or a teammate can’t get that out of a guy, it’s got to be from within.”
Lecavalier has certainly been energized by the opportunity to play on a team with legitimate chance at winning its third Stanley Cup in five years.
“Obviously in Philadelphia I wasn’t playing, so to get the opportunity to play and be on a good team is exciting,” said Lecavalier, who has 10 goals and 17 points in 40 games with the Kings.
“There have been some ups and downs and some games I’ve got to be better but overall it’s going pretty well. I want to finish the season strong and have a good playoff. Our goal is to win the Stanley Cup and I think we have a great team. I’m really proud to be part of this club.”
Lecavlier smiles when asked if the experience in Los Angeles has changed his mind on retirement.
“I don’t really want to go there but, no – I guess my answer is no.”
Perhaps Sutter is hoping a long, successful playoff run could change that.
