Canadiens to land Lecavalier? Maybe not

Despite talk to the contrary, The Montreal Gazette’s Pat Hickey believes that there’s is little to no chance that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier will be traded to the Montreal Canadiens.

While Montreal sports radio talk shows have floated the idea of the Canadiens landing Lecavalier for “rookie goaltender Carey Price, another NHL player and a draft choice,” Hickey suggests that that’s nonsense.

Lecavalier enjoys living and playing hockey in Tampa Bay and is entrenched in the community. That’s why he signed a four-year contract with the Lightning in 2005. So if Lecavalier wanted to play for the Canadiens, he could have “waited one year and signed with the Canadiens as an unrestricted free agent.”

Rumors that Tampa’s big four of Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards or Dan Boyle may get moved when Lightning GM Jay Feaster first mentioned the possibility.

“Being sub-.500, being 13th or 14th out of a 15-team Eastern Conference isn’t cutting it, given the money we lose, to think we’re going to keep payroll where it is and not make changes.”

However, there is no reason to believe that Lecavalier will be the one to get moved. He, like St. Louis, is a fan favorite.

Richards, on the other hand, might become available and could be had if a team is willing and able to swallow his $7.8 million average salary.

Both St. Louis and Boyle have no trade clauses in their contracts and would have to approve any deal out of town.