Forward Vincent Lecavalier is calling it a career after his team, the L.A. Kings, were eliminated from the playoffs. He will retire this summer. Lecavalier played 17 years in the NHL. How should we remember him?
Lecavalier was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 NHL Draft. That season he played in all 82 games for the Lightning, scoring 13 goals and 15 assists for a total of 28 points. His best year was in 2007 when he scored a career high of 52 goals and added 56 assists for 108 points. The Lightning would go to the playoffs five times with him and won the Stanley Cup in 2004. Tampa Bay bought out the rest of Lecavalier’s contract prior to the 2013-2014 season, meaning he was a free agent.
The Philadelphia Flyers signed him on July 3rd, 2013. The deal was for five years and $22.5 million. The Flyers were hoping to have the scorer Tampa Bay had for those great years. In 2014 Lecavalier showed he was the same player scoring a total of 20 goals and adding 17 assists for a total of 37 points. His numbers dipped in 2015 with only 8 goals and 12 assists.
This past season was one to forget. He played in 7 games for Philadelphia, even though they knew he would retire at the end of the year. The L.A. Kings traded for Lecavalier on January 6th for Jordan Weal and a third-round draft pick. Lecavalier suited up in 42 games scoring 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 points. He helped the Kings make the playoffs before falling to the San Jose Sharks in 5 games.
Lecavalier ends his career with 528 goals and 421 assists for 949 points. He has done everything he can do in the NHL. Lecavalier won the Maurice Richard Trophy as the leading scorer in 2007 and has a Stanley Cup Ring. He was voted onto the All-Star Game four times. There was nothing left for him to prove.
Lecavalier will leave the game as one of the fastest skaters. His speed made it difficult for opponents to check him or even take the puck away from him. He could also score and set up his teammates. Next for him should be the Hockey Hall of Fame because he was one of the best players in the game.
How will you remember Vincent Lecavalier?
Leave a Reply