The rumors have started-Updated 5/3
From Hockeybuzz:
Update 5/3:
More confirmation last night from a scout at the game (SJvsDet) that Vinny could be dealt and according to this source, Montreal and Vancouver were the most likely destinations. The source also said he heard that Price would be included in the deal... However, he also believed the Blues may make a "substantial" push for Marty St. Louis, and said that only one would be moved. "The knock on Marty is that many people aren't certain that he will be as good away from his current group. I disagree, but if Jay can't get enough for Marty he will be forced to look elsewhere."
From Hockeybuzz:
* Which of the big three in Tampa is on the move? Word amongst the press is rampant that one of the guys will have to be moved in order to make budget next season, and "all signs point to either St. Louis or Vinny." Of course when Vinny's name is brought up, the Habs are involved. One source said he believed that the Lightning would demand that part of the deal include Carey Price. That is interesting on many levels. Vinny would give the Habs what they haven't had since Roy left. A bona-fide local superstar. Of course every team is interested in Vinny, and the best bet is for Tampa to grab some young stars whose rookie contract would help them for the next few years. teams that are likely to be the first to kick the tires are LA, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Toronto..
Marty St. Louis is supposedly drawing interest from Chicago, Dallas, Boston, St Louis (which would be rather odd) and all three NY area teams.
-Keep in mind, Hockeybuzz blew it many times on trade deadline day, so I don't put much value in what they say. It seems like every few months or so there is a "Vinny to Montreal " rumor. But they are putting rumors out there, so I will bring them to you.
-I think St. Louis being moved is the more plausible rumor. Richards didn't perform up to his cap number ($7.8mil.), so many teams would shy away from him. Vinny is the cornerstone of the franchise. Feaster himself said his legacy in Tampa Bay would not be as the guy who traded away Vinny Lecavalier. We'll see if he is a man of his word.
I personally like St. Louis' take on the roster situation: "For me, it would be foolish to spend less. If anything, I'd spent more because you have a lot of key elements to a championship team here," he said. "If you add a player here and there, we could be right there. If they go the other way, what kind of message does that send?"
1 comments:
That's very bad news, but then again, I don't believe it. Anyone who has been around this team knows that Feaster's primary objective is to sign the big three. His shortcoming is that he feels his job is done once that happens. Breaking up that 2-person scoring machine (Vinny/Marty) would be disappointing for both the team trading and the team being dealt. I don't think the Lightning will get their 7 million out of trading Brad, but they still could get enough out of a that kind of star to be able to make some room. I'd like to see that happen, but I don't think it will go that way either. What I think will happen is that we will keep all three of the big names and lose the offensive support. D will lose its experience and goaltenders will remain Johan and Kari. Denis is out for a big loss.
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