The story goes that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning had a deal in which Tampa Bay would send Vinny and an asset, (perhaps a draft pick) to Toronto, at which point the Leafs would buy out Lecavalier, so Tampa Bay could re-sign him at a lower contract. Tampa Bay signed their captain to an eleven year, $85 million contract in 2009-10. There are seven years and $45 million left on the deal, meaning a buy-out would amount to about $30 million over the next 14 years. So, if I understand what I’ve read, the Leafs would pay $30 million for an asset.

PHOTO CREDIT - NHL.com

Windsor - June 27, 2013 - In the second case of “things that make you go hmmm” this week, I am still trying to figure out the Leafs/Lightning deal that would have landed Vincent Lecavalier right back in Tampa Bay. The story goes that the Leafs and Lightning had a deal in which Tampa Bay would send Vinny and an asset, (perhaps a draft pick) to Toronto, at which point the Leafs would buy out Lecavalier, so Tampa Bay could re-sign him at a lower contract. Tampa Bay signed their captain to an eleven year, $85 million contract in 2009-10. There are seven years and $45 million left on the deal, meaning a buy-out would amount to about $30 million over the next 14 years. So, if I understand what I’ve read, the Leafs would pay $30 million for an asset. Now, unless that asset is the Lightning’s first round pick in the upcoming draft - third overall and probably one of Nathan MacKinnon, Seth Jones or Jonathan Drouin - that’s a deal that doesn’t make sense to me. Or anyone I’ve talked to for that matter.

The NHL was quick to nullify the deal, and rightfully so, saying that it would violate the current collective bargaining agreement. After learning of the NHL’s refusal to accept the deal, the Lightning announced that they would instead buy out Lecavlier, which now makes him a free agent as of July 5th. Was it a case of Leafs GM Dave Nonis reaching out to Lightning GM Steve Yzerman? Was there more to the deal than was released to the media? We may never know. In any case. Lecavalier becomes a free agent next Friday.

At that point, if the Leafs choose to pursue him, I’d be ok with that.

TC out