Tortorella: Lightning forwards not going anywhere

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach John Tortorella tells Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times that he believes it would be foolish to trade forwards Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards.

“These guys are going nowhere,” Tortorella said. “They’ve done so much for this organization, and they will continue to do things for this organization to get us out of any jams we’re in. That’s what they’ve matured to, and they are a huge part of our success.”

“I just think they are at the core of our team,” Tortorella said of the Big Three. “This is a big reason why we have become successful. No matter what is being talked about out there, this, that or the other thing. I just don’t see it happening.”

As for the St. Louis for Dallas Stars’ goalie Marty Turco trade rumors, Tortorella says they are full of hot air.

“It’s absolute [expletive],” Tortorella said Monday.

Stars co-GM Les Jackson agrees with Tortorella, saying that there is absolutely no truth to the Turco for St. Louis rumors.

“I don’t like to talk about rumors. But in regard to Turco, the first thing about that is, I don’t want to trade him. And the second thing is, I really have no plans to trade him,” Jackson said.

Meanwhile, despite talk to the contrary, recent reports indicate that there’s is little to no chance that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier will be traded to the Montreal Canadiens.