Vincent Lecavalier

Nice deal: 11 years, $85 million, front-loaded.

Maybe Vincent Lecavalier can sign with the Canadiens when he's 40.

• Marc-Antoine Godin has a story on the eternally hopeful Mathieu "I'm the Other Matt Carle" Carle.

• Yvan Pedneault on Bob Gainey's summer and the ongoing pursuit of a Number One centre.

TSN reports the Tampa Bay Lightning are about to lock up Vincent Lecavalier for the rest of his NHL career.

Nine years. $77 million, front-loaded, and a no-movement clause.

RDS reports that Vincent Lecavalier is on the verge of signing a long-term contract that will keep him in Tampa Bay.

Lecavalier, 28, is entering the final season of a three-year deal that pays him $7.167 million per. He is eligible to become a UFA on July 1, 2009.

Notwithstanding thehopes and dreams of Canadiens fans who envisioned an Île Bizard native coming home next summer, Lecavalier is in a great situation in Tampa (the more so now that John Tortorella is history), and he is heavily involved in the community, having made huge donations to local charities.

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Los Angeles Kings are said to be shopping the number two pick in the draft. Rumours had them offering a package of the pick plus Mike Cammalleri to Tampa Bay for the Steven Stamkos pick.

There's also speculation – denied by Ottawa gm Bryan Murray – that the Kings tried to trade the pick to Ottawa for Jason Spezza.