In this ten-part series, I will be dissecting ten different players' careers. The series is fully called “Players ages 28 and younger who will end up in the Hall of Fame.” Feel free to argue a selection or the rankings at the end of the series.
Vinny Lecavalier got really lucky.
Not with the fact that he is good at hockey. But with his teammate, Brad Richards.
Lecavalier and Richards met at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Saskatchewan, Canada, became roommates, and immediately became best friends.
After college, though, they assumed that they would go their own ways.
Instead, they were both drafted by the Rimouski Oceanic, played together on that team, and also were drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning. How lucky is it when you are able to play hockey alongside your best friend since 1996?
Lecavalier has always been an unbelievable hockey player, ever since scoring 103 points in 64 games in his first year with the QMJHL. He continued his dominance the next year, when he increased that total to 115 points in 58 games. That kind of play earned him the honor of being the first overall pick in the 1998 Entry Draft, selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
He struggled early on in his NHL career, scoring only 28 points in a full 82-game season his rookie year. He did better in his sophomore campaign, netting 67 points, but then dropped to 51 and 37 points in the next two years, respectively.
He never averaged a point per game until after the NHL lockout. In 2006-2007, he scored 108 points, but was overshadowed by Sidney Crosby’s ridiculous sophomore season, so he did not get much attention. This year, though, he had 92 points in 81 games, also among league leaders.
Vincent Lecavlier also played Jean Beliveau in the movie “The Rocket: The Maurice Richard Story.” Because of that, he wears number four to honor the great Beliveau.
Lecavalier was an All-Star in 2003, 2007, and 2008. He was the captain of this year’s game, and also won the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2007. He has been the captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning for many years now, and has led the Lightning to the Stanley Cup that they won in 2004.
Internationally, Lecavalier played in the 1998 World Junior Championships, the 2001 World Championships, the 2006 Winter Olympics, and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey—where he won a gold medal with Team Canada, and was named the tournament MVP.
8 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Chris Bouthillier 11 months ago
Hands-down the next captain of the Lightning. It would be stupid not to name him captain seeing as he'll be there for the next 11 years. Great read Alan, I know who numbers 1 and 2 and going to be (haha) but I'm curious about number 3. Take 'er easy.
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Tyler Hill 11 months ago
Eric Staal must be number 3, am I right.
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Michael Wagner 11 months ago
Vinny is amazing...future HOFer for sure
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Rafal Ladysz 11 months ago
datsyuks gotta be comin up
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Alan Bass 11 months ago
datsyuk is not under 28
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Fahad Zaidi 11 months ago
This guy is 'Money in the Bank'. Good choice!
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Joel Matticks 11 months ago
i say malkin is next
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Chris Farley 11 months ago
unbelievable, he is amazing. great job with this series, alan
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