Vinny Lecavalier all the rage in Canada

The Tampa Bay Lightning's Vinny Lecavalier apparently is the biggest sports story in Canada today.

As of 2 p.m., TSN, Canada's equivalent of ESPN, had Lecavalier as the lead story on its site, with no fewer than four stories and two videos devoted to speculation about whether the Lightning is shopping its captain and marquee attraction --and whether the Ile Bizard, Que., native will wind up with the Montreal Canadiens.

Here is a sampling:

Lecavalier and Lightning address trade rumors

Gainey remaining silent on Lecavalier

Dreger: Discussion in Tampa on whether to deal Lecavalier

McKenzie: Potential for Lecavalier going to Habs is there

Video: Making a move

Video: On his way?

(Times photo: Dirk Shadd. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Boltflasher]

Ajax, if you're gonna be at the Flyers game I'll try very hard to get there in time for 1st intermission to meet by the same Berlin Wall poster and maybe Coach Bill....TWG? Tackleberry?

[Boltflasher]

Though, I think Ajax only had Jimmy Mac because of the imposter...I posted anonymously some of the time because of it...

[PD]

Flasher I've been PD before Koules and it looks like Ill be PD after Koules.

Ignatz I'm not, but I'm liking the guy more every day.

Thanks

[leo]

You were off, Jimmy.
But dang close.
P.

[Boltflasher]

Maybe you're not Ignatz PD, my apologies if you're not, even so it's not a slight. You'be admitted to duals before Bear, PD, PoleDancer. As I have said, others here have them and I always find it amusing whether its PD, Bear, Ajax, Casper, etc. Maybe I'll make one for my laptop (different IP!!) called Flasherbolt and one for work (yet another IP) called Workflasher..

[Jim Nagle]

Leo- I read the article and, if my half-queue French is any good, Vinny definitely said he wouldn't refuse a trade to Montreal. But he also again speaks to his loyalty to TB, how he's played there since he was eighteen etc etc. Boyle's comments were also interesting though unsurprising, considering what happened with him here at the hands of these bozos.

BTW, Leo, you haven't told me how I did with my wild guess as to your occupation.

[hockeytalkie]

ajax

i wont be there tomorrow but you (or anyone) can catch me there on sat night. i'll be by "the berlin wall" at 1st int. that's the giant newspaper reprint from 1989 at the entrance to the 114-115 tunnel across from the westshore pizza concession.

[PD]

Ok Moron Ajax, Ill Bite, enough of your libelous taunting.

I blogged as Bear long time ago, you know cuz I told flasher and Olin.
Leo was here,Flasher, JP a whole bunch of good guys

Flasher says you have as many as 5 alternate ID's, I know Jimmy Mac is One.

Who gives a sht?

But when you come on and tell the others in the Blog that I'm someone else, in this case Ignatz, then you have crossed the line of decency and should just leave the blog and crawl back under your rock.

So here's the challenge you pithy little Pansy:

You and I each put $250 on the table payable to either Damians or Coach Bill's favorite Charity.

I'm sure Ignatz is in too even though I have never met /him her.

We will have the posted IP's checked and call in to coach or Damian to verify if required.

Should be easily provable.

Are you in Sucker?

[ajax]

PB&I, Maybe cause 1+1=2, or "If the blog fits, think nitwit??" Where does everyone meet?? and when?? I might be late but I sure would like to meet some of you. Wait, I want to clarify one thing. Bear are u going?? OF course not, you don't go to the actual games.

[PD]

Flasher:
"Funny, Ignatz/PD, you missed this article right on from page of THN where you got your article".

What's with that s*it

I expect that out of the mental midget not you?

[ajax]

On a hockey note. Watched the Washington/Pitts game. Hard to believe that right around a year ago, Washington with basically the same cast, was in last place. They got team speed out the gazoo. Ovechkin and Malkin cheap shotting each other. Like PB&I, cheap shotting me all the time. I will say this, Ovechkin gets away with murder, I think even the Pitt players were getting real tired of the double standard. Imagine if Ovie played in Toronto or Montreal?? The double whammy of getting "all the calls" They'd have 12 PPlays a night!!!!

[hockeytalkie]

just got back from orl. lordy!

leo -wah, wah, wah. as i said before i won't say "never" (see boyle) on this faux-deal, but it gets more and more unlikely each minute that passes. so far your sources are a bunch of biased blogs and np stories with more caveats in them than a point made by william buckley. my sources are ACTUAL living breathing people within my team's organization.

pibb -i take it you saw the youtube tribute? truth hurt? while i admit to being as immature as they come (it's what is needed in my career), ignorant of habs history or hockey history in general i am not. just ask your boy leo about that.

we ain't all gomers out here in da styx. sum uf us hicks dun grad-ee-ated da six grade ya know. sum uf us ack-chew-uly DONT watch nascar.

just to show you: 24 cups in 85 years and 0 in the last 15 is a more accurate habs history (and not even a sniff to be specific) is this your longest draught? maybe that's what's REALLY bugging you.
vs
1 in 16 years at tb
exactly how many cups did mtl win from 1909-1927? oh, wait i know this one. it was...

TTTTT W W O !
T W W W O O !
T W W O O !
T W W O .

i'm not suggesting that tbl or ANY team including habs will post 24 w/in any 85 year span again but that has to do with the make up of the league then vs now more than anything else.

venice was a world power back in the days of city-states, but now they are only indignant to the very thing that keeps them from being completely inconsequencial: tourism.
habs had the radius, but that was then. since the last of the habs for life left the league, they have exactly 1 title. new world order, get used to it. lots russians names on cup now. 2 more american coaches have joined badger bob on cup. 30 teams not 6 or 12 or 21. the odds are against you. (and everyone)

yes habs (like venezia) have a proud history. but live in the present not the past -per l'amor de san pietro! last cup was 16 years ago, in tbl's expansion season, not 2 ago. i get devils, wings (and maybe avs) fans yapping, but everyone else (bolts included)? please.

i think collectively canada is just still sore over us breaking everyone's hearts up the there (pei excluded) back in 2004. get over it already, i'd rather listen to sabres fans whine about brett hull.

[ajax]

Damien, how about the times running one of those ESPN type polls in the paper. FRONT PAGE OF THE SPORTS....IN BIG BOLD BLACK LETTERS. Will you renew season tickets if Vinny gets traded??
With like 5 choices for answers?
1. absolutely not
2. absolutely yes
3. Only if they get a Herschel Walker type haul.
4. Depends on what they do with the cash, over the summer, if they do save payroll.
5. ?????? I need help in a fifth scenario.
C'mon Damien, what better message could be sent to ownership, then the voice of the people. It would be better if you had to enter your season ticket holder acc't number, but it still would reflect what the community thinks.
Make sure if the poll is done on the computer that each PC address can only vote once. PB&I might vote answer #2 5000 times, to make sure the Cowboys think he won't be missed and "he does get traded" Imagine how happy PB&I would be to see Vinny gone. I would vote either 2 or 4. Just me. I had season tickets when there were about 2856 of us at the game. I love hockey.

[leo]

Well, Ajax, gotta admit some of those 5th graders would clean my clock.
I admit to personally being completely out of my depths concerning the inner financial manoeuverings of team caps vs CBA.
But I do know that Mr.Gainey wouldn't do something that couldn't be done.
He felt that Higgy, Grabby O'B, an undisclosed 4th and picks was too much to pay for Hossa.
Not knowing who the 4th was, you jump on that and call Bob a fool.
Finding out the 4th was Sergei put things into perspective.
We trust Bob.
P.

[ajax]

Leo, I think I said exactly what that article said. This Tampa fan always got it. Some people write if we get guys that leave next year it was a wasted trade. Wrong, as that writer pointed out, then you got the money to spend. Do you notice the writer says we might get less bodies and more prospects/drafts. 2+3=5 but so does 4+1=5. I almost would rather have all the money free to spend. What you got for 4 million past summer, you might just get for 2.8 million this summer, hence more bang for the buck. Possibilities, always positive possibilities to be had. As for the worry of the cap in 2017? Leo, don't waste your breath. Yeah, Montreal, a cash cow is worried about the salary cap in 2017? If Vinny gets Montreal over the hump, and they get just 3 extra home playoff games, they pay his salary for almost the entire year. Sometimes I think this is a 5th grade blog with what the three headed monster posts all the time (bear/pd/iggy) Patrick, like you said. PB&I, could read an article entitled "The Pros and Cons of the VL4 Trade" and his very next post would quote all the cons, followed by...I told ya I was right. Until of course someone called him on his little misconception scheme #687. 688 I am sure will be posted soon. PD, one question. Why are you even discussing the Vinny trade??? Three weeks ago you told all of us koolaiders post after post after post that Vinny was untradeable. You sure hit that one on the head ace.

[leo]

Here it is,
The RDS interview with Vinny.
Auto-translate away!
http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/267044.html
P.

[leo]

Yeah, Flasher, I read it right after. This is the part TB needs to understand: "Their point was that the Lightning shouldn't even think about trading Lecavalier unless they get either goalie Carey Price or defenseman Andrei Markov in return.
Dream on, boys. The first thing Tampa Bay will have to come to grips with is the fact there's absolutely no way it will get equal value back if it trades Lecavalier. But what it will get – and this is a concept people are still having trouble getting their heads around in the salary cap world – is an enormous amount of cap relief."
But Flasher, that particular problem won't affect Us to the extent buddy is laying out. We'll be paying Markov, Hamr, Komo and Vinny. Who else?
In five years, we'll be paying the Priceberg, Komo, the Ks and Vinny. Who else?
In 7 years? Who know? We'll cross that bridge when we get there. We'll ALWAYS have the money. There ain't no problem in that regard. The CBA changes? Ooooh, fine, we'll deal with it?
With the injury, is it a gamble? Sure, it is. Everything's a gamble.
We're all in.
Because our drafting in the KEY to our success.
Your boy Pac-Man, for example. How much he makin'?
P.

[Patrick]

"This recap by the NY Times on the Lecavalier rumors gives you an idea of how the TB ownership is perceived by seasoned hockey observers. The only part of the article I know not to be true is that Barrie has NOT sold Bear Mountain at all let alone for $500M."

PD,

I like how you believe everything negative in the article about the owners and don't believe the one financially positive part of it. Let me hear you say you are objective again. Every time you say it it gives me a laugh.

Did you also notice how the article said Lightning attendance is only down 2,000, not the 3,000 you constantly post about? Always stretching to negative facts as far as possible.

And don't tell me your ignatz - really, what's the difference?

[Boltflasher]

Apologies, it was Leo's...

[Boltflasher]

And just to add to the jumbled mass of rumour chaos, the TFP author of yesterday's story doubts his own site's story....

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/columnists/journal/pagnotta090114.html

[ignatz]

No, BF, I got it from the NYT. Check the link again.

And I didn't know being mental was contagious. I'm Ignatz, not Ignatz/PD.

[ajax]

Flasher, like you said, can go to the official Lightning website and email the Lightning. I did. I said with all that has gone on in the last year and a half with the sale/silence, the Boyle soap, and now ten million rumors on Vinny, maybe the team could get Lawton and Vinny together for 1 minute of face time. This once again has to be a total distraction to the entire team. I suggest everyone voice their own particular opinion as well.

http://lightning.nhl.com/
I consider myself a hardcore Lightning fan. When Danny got traded, I wished him well and said, now back to our team. If Vinny gets traded the sun will come up, and I good gosh hope the Lightning get alot more than they got for Brad. Remember this Boltfans. Until this economy turns around, getting simple money freed up will not be that bad of an idea. Everyone wants instant 6'3 220 Dmen. Me too!!! Just possibly we might get more bang for the buck at deadline time or during the summer. Just saying, I have always looked at tomorrow as a grand opportunity.

[Boltflasher]

Funny, Ignatz/PD, you missed this article right on from page of THN where you got your article. This one says Vinny trade won't happen because of cap hit...big gamble by Habs to assume CBA rollback...

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/22396-THNcom-Blog-Habs-hope-for-another-rollback-in-Lecavalier-chase.html

[Boltflasher]

From Jon Jordan, Hockeybuzz: "Might as well get used to sifting through any and all Vinny Lecavalier rumors. Seems as though they won't be going anywhere any time soon with Montreal's La Presse reporting the latest twist - that Lecavalier is owed a $500,000 bonus on Thursday that the team might have difficulty paying - according to Faceoff.com (an affiliate web site of Canwest Publishing and The Toronto Star). Don't know if I believe this latest "news" myself but, these days, who can tell? You start piling up both the crap and the truth that comes from up north with stuff like this and, well, you'll probably end up with two pretty big piles, if you know what I'm saying."

[WolverineMike25]

I think I'm moving to the next stage of the "Kubler-Ross model". I've long been done with denial that it might happen, and have finally closed the book on anger. Now, it is time for: bargaining. Sigh...

Please don't bring us restriced free agent rentals like Higgy or Plekanec. We don't need to improve for this year. Raid their farm system: Subban, Gorges, my boy Pacioretty, another prospect and multiple first rounders? Or make a stand on Price or Komisarek.

This just doesn't feel right :(

[leo]

Holy! Just airing now. French clip. Last night or today. Renaud Lavoie. RDS.
"I signed in TB thinking I'd finish my career here. I love TB. The community, the people and the organization that drafted me and gave me a chance to develop into a professional player.
If there IS a trade, the organization knows that WHERE I choose to go is important for me and I can only thank them for that..."
I'll leave off there, cuz you won't believe what he said next.
Oh! It's got a name: "Il ne dira pas 'non'." - "He won't say 'no'." That means it must be here: rds.ca.
P.

[ignatz]

This recap by the NY Times on the Lecavalier rumors gives you an idea of how the TB ownership is perceived by seasoned hockey observers. The only part of the article I know not to be true is that Barrie has NOT sold Bear Mountain at all let alone for $500M.

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/the-morning-skate-will-the-lightning-trade-vincent-lecavalier/

[leo]

Absolutely, Wolvie.
That's perfect. I totally agree with you and doubt I could've said better myself.
This whole thing has nothing (well, "nothing", you know...) to do with us in Montreal, or even V4.
It's all on your owners and how they're running your team. They hadn't PLANNED on not being successful from the start. They hadn't FORESEEN that. Make no mistake, if you were 1st in the Dision and 4th in the Conf, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
What the cowboys are doing is disgusting, imo.
But from my Habber point of view...
If there's a chance for us to snag him, we'll do everything we can to do it.
The Hockey News page I linked pretty much goes 'round what we've been talkin' about the last few frenetic hours.
And better explains why you WON'T get Crosby in return.
P.

[WolverineMike25]

The majority of your points are well-received. I’m not certain I buy completely the argument that “we won’t, CAN’T keep him” due to financial reasons. Why you ask? Because it, along with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis, are the few proverbial pillars left that are still holding up my Lightning fan hood. See, I find it terribly difficult to believe that 6 months after professing your desire to build your franchise around someone, extending an 11-year extension, you could have the audacity to float his name around in trade talks. I understand the no-trade clause doomsday date this July. I understand Montreal, the irrational ex-lover of our Vincent, would do more than most to pry him away. What I do not understand, REFUSE to understand is that an ownership group could waffle on such an issue as this. You may say; why should I be surprised? The sample size, though small, has been overwhelmingly negative. How can one’s finances look so drastically 6 months later? How can one be so irresponsible and someone finagle into Bettman’s pants and allow the sale to go through? The recession did not occur 6 months ago the day Vinny signed his contract. You can not use that as an excuse for flip-flopping. Why sign him in the first place? Heck, why purchase the team if you CAN’T AFFORD IT?

I ramble. I digress.

I am a dismayed, loyal fan. I do not want to see my favorite player, who I’ve grown up watching and idealized in my own way, dealt; but I am not selfish. If it meant the betterment of the team, so be it. However, when it ceases to be about bettering the team and dissolves into nothing more than another attempt at a quick-fix due to a lack of a plan in something as large as a sports franchise; I get angry. Everyone can see the most successful franchises in all sports have cohesive plans that are followed top-to-bottom through the originization, i.e. Detroit Red Wings, New England Patriots, yes even Montreal. How can trading Boyle, trading Carle after less than 15 games, signing the hugely overrated Meszaros after giving up on an exciting prospect handed to you on a silver platter like Picard, and this latest Lecavalier horse manure be construed into anything other than the wild stabbing about of a blind fool who is clearly out of his league.

So I will not be surprised when I wake up one morning and learn that we’ve dealt Vinny. I’ll listen to the list of players we get in return, look up their minor league stats, I might even feign excitement at the possible draft picks. But the final thought will be the sadness of the betrayal and the absurdity of the “decisions” that led to this perilous event.

[leo]

Seen this? The Hockey News.
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/22393-Top-Shelf-Lecavalier-deal-would-be-VinVin-for-Montreal.html
P.

[PD]

Mr Pipp, well put.

Something no one has stated, (apologies if they have), how does Lecavalier feel now that he has been given the Boyle treatment?

Even if not traded, he will never see it the same again.

The face of the franchise now has it all over his face.
Quite a pathetic no win spot to be thrust in to.

It's amateur hour to the max with OK hockey to have this leak out.

[Patrick]

*yawn*

[Mr. Pibb]

Lecavalier hasn’t enjoyed anything about this season. He hasn’t performed up to expectations.

“Lecavalier is said to be extremely discouraged with what has gone on. The question he’s no doubt asking himself now is this: Is it always going to be like this? Because if it is, he’s not sure he wants to stay. He did in the summer. Now, it’s much more uncertain.”

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/the-morning-skate-the-curse-of-the-long-term-contract/#more-1469

[leo]

Fair enough, Wolvie. Who can replace Vinny after all? Nobody. Perfectly understandable.
I'm gonna be real with you: For YOUR sake, I hope V4 doesn't get traded. He's the face of your franchise and were I in your position, I would be flippin' out, promising bloody murder to the managers of the team and attacking any Habber on the site (even the nice ones who have only ever been respectful and civil towards me) with lame and repetive, spite-filled mockery.
Perfectly understandable.
But in the situation your team is in right NOW, Wolvie, a "fair" return for V4 is NOT what they're after, even if it could be gotten...which it probably could NOT due to the white-elephantism of his contract. Surely you see this?
Your team is looking to unload his contract BEFORE his no-trade clause kicks in. There is therefore a "window of opportunity" which seems like it will HURT YOU more if you keep the contract than BLESS OTHERS if they manage to land it.
Every GM knows this.
You're not gonna get Crosby.
You're gonna get an auction. A CONSERVATIVE one with only Montreal going ALL IN right away and everyone else folding. You DO see that, right?
Montreal is the best predisposed to bid heavily cuz of its armada of assets and uhh...well, you know how much We love V4.
Doesn't mean we'll WIN the auction of course.
But NOBODY will offer you as much as We can and it's NOT like you can say "forget it; we'll keep him."
Cuz no, you won't or worse, CAN'T keep him. You're GONNA take the best offer out there.
Whatever it is, you'll be FORCED to.
Not necessarily saying it's us, no, no; we're still "cleaning up Tockey's repetitivness." A big puddl'o'spite.
But Wolvie?
You, I like.
Hit me.
P.

[Globalpuck.com]

This is an excerpt from a Montreal post board yesterday, questioning Vinny character:

------------------------
If by "handle the pressure" you really mean 'live up to unrealistic expectations fit for a super hero', then yes, Vincent will end up a disappointment.

Vincent is a star player, but he is, afterall, mortal. There's a saying where I come from: 'you've been out in the barn too long'. My belief is that one's perception of the truth/reality becomes clouded the more one is surrounded or immersed in something foul. You walk into a barn and you react naturally: "MAN, that stinks!!" Yet the more time you spend inside, you begin to lose sense of it. Is Daniel Briere playing for the Habs??! Is Brad Richards playing for the Habs??! Is Mats Sundin playing for the Habs??! The more time everyone on this board devotes to spinning radio rumors and reinforcing unfounded speculation, the more everyone consuming it loses a grip on reality.
-------------------
I agree that this story has taken on a life of it's own and started off pretty baseless. Also, if there are any more questions on the strength of Vinny character, you'll find answers at GLOBALPUCK-DOT-COM

[Oscar]

Quote of the Day:

"you francos forget what he likes best around here. and that is not getting his every move scrutinized! he's not even there and you wont leave him alone. what message are you sending him."

Posted by: hockeytalkie | January 14, 2009 at 11:33 AM

Sheer poetry and right the fk on point. "he's not even there and you wont leave him alone." Beautiful!

Too bad the boys in sticky skivvys won't even take that hint clobbering them over the head!
These guys are what is known as "chronic".

Take it all out on the Flyers, gang!

Go Bolts!

[WolverineMike25]

Leo: Correct, I did not catch the Juniors, and am not that familiar with Subban. However, I stick to my proverbial guns and think that if committed to this, there is a better deal for the Bolts out there, with the Habs or no.

Pertaining to the Mr. Pibb-Patrick squabble: Vinny seems to be a humble, cool, calm and collected-type of guy. As one who doesn't know the guy, this is entirely based on opinions obtained from years upon years of interviews, pressers, charity work, on-ice character, etc. So, coupling the idea of being financially secure for the remainder of his life, showing loyalty to the team that drafted him and my perceptions of a good-character guy, it makes obvious sense that he signed the extension that he did in the summer. The new owners made it a priority; Koules and Lawton after he was hired talked about it being one of the most important parts of the offseason. In fact, Koules went so far as to say that he saw Lecavalier as a team executive down the road.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/lightning/2008/06/vinny-as-a-ligh.html

The fact that these talks are not being VEHEMENTLY denied is what bothers me. Of course I am open to a trade that makes the Bolts better. And under any other circumstance, I think it would be right to listen to a deal. But you can't look at this situation in a box. You MUST take into account the previous dealings of these owners, the questionable at best and often unethical means which many matters and players close to our heart and community were dealt with. Tiring of thinking about this, I refer to Gary Shelton, who as usual, captures EXACTLY the heart of what I am trying to say...

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/article967326.ece

[Mr. Pibb]

Last sentence first word should read as "Given", not giving. Sorry. ESL.

[Mr. Pibb]

Patrick,

You are welcome, thanks for watching over him during the interim period of his career. It is not like there is a shortage of Canadian born hockey players at current though.

The no trade clause of the "lifetime" deal doesn't kick in until July I believe. Yet your GM has been actively shopping him since they restructured the OK hockey deal, despite his denial, if former Cbus GM Doug MacLean is to be believed, since he mentioned it yesterday on his radio show on The Fan 590 Toronto.

http://www.fan590.com/onair/more.jsp?content=20080211_140341_8056

It was framed within the context of growing financial difficulties facing the franchise. Your owners have a case of "the shorts", according to Bob McCown of the same station. Both discussions can be found on the website in the archives.

Given the reported TBL ownership/franchise financial difficulties, it is logical to question the value of a "lifetime contract" issued by folks reported as suffering them.

I may not have a link of Vinny stating he'd love to play in Montreal (he'd never say that while under contract to someone else, Canadians have class); that the city is obviously high on his priority list will suffice.

Giving the gong show running and guiding your "team", bet that Vinny privately feels that moving to an actual hockey market will be a breath of fresh air.

[Patrick]

Produce a link to a quote of Vinny saying "someday I'd love to play there."

I hate to put an end to the pants-jizzing, but do you think if he really wanted to play there he would sign a lifetime deal with Tampa? He doesn't seem to want to be God to your peeps. I guess we'll just have to settle for your hometown boys playing and starring for our team. Thanks!

[Mr. Pibb]

Vinny would be God if he played in Montreal, a home town boy suiting up for the most storied franchise in the league, a franchise with a long history of home grown stars.

Because you'll never experience the same with hockey in Tampa (home town boy playing and starring for the home team), I'll give you a pass for both the juvenile comments and your lack of historical hockey knowledge.

I suggest you begin here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens

To summarize, 24 Stanley Cups and 100 years of history >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
1 fluke Stanley cup and an uncertain future hockey history.

[hockeytalkie]

check your shorts mr. bibb. looks like yet another "clean up on aisle three"

[Mr. Pibb]

"I love the city of Montreal, I have never hidden that," he told La Presse. "

"I am from there. My family is from there. My friends as well. I grew up with the Canadiens. I understand there are a lot of rumours presently. But they are rumours. I have heard them throughout my career. I like playing in Tampa, I am a loyal person."

Lecavalier also indicated that the decision on a trade "are out of my control," and if he had made a short list of the cities where he would like to play, Montreal would be in a good position.

"For sure," he told La Presse.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=263058&lid=sublink06&lpos=headlines_main

To summarize things for you fanboys, he Likes Tampa, but he LOVES Montreal.
Vinny would be a God if he played in Montreal, so lets all hope he gets his wish.

[hockeytalkie]

and the teenieboppers

(only kidding!)

[hockeytalkie]

if it's punishment to make 8 million a year, live in the sun and not have teenieboppers chasing me through the mall for my autograph then sign me up. (not comparing my lack of skills to his amazing ones). at least i get the sunny days year round.

you francos forget what he likes best around here. and that is not getting his every move scrutinized! he's not even there and you wont leave him alone. what message are you sending him.

here's a great link that may help you put the VL4 trade rumors in better perspective even though it's in English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I5XXFqOUyA

[Mr. Pibb]

@ hyjyljyj

quote"Keep it up. Quebeckers must be the ultimate gluttons for punishment."

Hope you are including Vinny in that statement, since he is Quebecois after all... and currently stuck playing hockey in Tampa Bay.

Guess you were correct!

[leo]

Guess you only read THAT part, Hihi. It was a hypothetical pertaining to his contract. Check again. And pay attention. Or you run the risk of embarrassing yourself by speaking whilst uninformed.
What does the Buddha say about that?
P.

[hyjyljyj]

"Once you trade him to us, that's it. His contract kicks in and he's ours."

Keep.

Dreamin'.

Honestly, building up all this hope and expectation just sets you people up for another round of soul-crushing disappointment, frustration, deprivation and wretched misery, which will be even more deeply satisfying to us here in Hockey Bay than the first time, when he signed the extension last summer

The words of the Buddha ring true: The source of all suffering is the incessant yearning for that which you cannot have.

Keep it up. Quebeckers must be the ultimate gluttons for punishment :p

[hockeytalkie]

you've got to get him first!

i won't say "never", but at this point let's just say that i think it's HIGHLY unlikely. sorry mate, looks like yet another clean up on aisle three for you leo.

[leo]

Thank you, Geo.
There you go, Max.
We'll never let him go, Vinny.
Never.
P.