Vinny Lecavalier a Bolt for Life: Lighning Focuses on Free Agency

The clock struck midnight on the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, and other suitors of the Tampa Bay Lightning's team captain Vincent Lecavalier. The superstar's no-movement clause kicked in today,likely guaranteeing the player will be a member of the squad for the duration of his contract.

The no-movement clause is different than a "no-trade" clause in that with a no-trade clause, a player's consent is required before a trade involving that player is made. If a player has a no-movement clause, the player cannot be traded, waived, or sent down to the minors without that player's approval. 

The 11-year, $85 million dollar contract will take Lecavalier to his 40th birthday. The team could ask Lecavalier to waive his clause, but typically a player with this type of contract will not remove it.

Published reports in Canada that indicated Lecavalier was close to being dealt to Montreal before co-owner Len Barrie blocked it are false, according to 620 WDAE's Steve Duemig. Duemig cited sources inside the Lightning stating that Barrie, who allegedly has not contributed a dime in the purchase of the Lightning, has been drawing attention to himself by feeding stories to the Canadian press.

This is what prompted Oren Koules to request a meeting with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Bettman decreed that Koules was the only spokesman for the Lightning on business matters and General Manager Brian Lawton was the only voice on player management or moves.

This prompted Lawton to send a message to media that only he had say in player transactions and all potential trades go through him; Koules and Barrie both must sign off on major deals.

According to Duemig, there was no trade on the table for Lecavalier to the Canadiens. Barrie had nothing to do with blocking any deals because no deal existed.

Now that the soap opera concerning Lecavalier is over and Barrie has been exposed, the Lightning can focus on free agency, which begins today.

Some of the top free agents include Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik, and the Sedin twins, but don't expect the Lightning to go after any big names this offseason.

"We're not looking to make any big splashes," Lawton told the St. Petersburg Times. "Slow and steady."

Expect Tampa Bay to be stingy with the free agency-dollars, continuing to focus on adding depth to the blue line and finding a backup goalie. One interesting free agent is Nikolai Khabibulin, the former goalie who led the Lightning to the Stanley Cup. It's been long rumored that Tampa Bay was interested reacquiring the netminder. The question will be the price tag for the 36-year-old veteran.