Vincent Lecavalier
566338
225619552
2008-07-14T16:16:31Z
Big T Foot
6237531
Added contract length
{{Infobox Ice Hockey Player
| image = Vinny Lecavalier 2007.jpg
| image_size = 225px
| position = [[Centre (ice hockey)|Centre]]
| shoots = Left
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 219
| team = [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]
| league = [[National Hockey League|NHL]]
| nationality = Canada
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|04|21}}
| birth_place = [[Ile Bizard, Quebec|Ile Bizard]], [[Quebec|QC]], [[Canada|CAN]]
| career_start = 1998
| draft = 1st overall
| draft_year = 1998
| draft_team = [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]
| nickname = Vinny, St. Vincent
}}
'''Vincent Lecavalier''' (born [[April 21]], [[1980]] [[Ile Bizard, Quebec|Ile Bizard]], [[Quebec]]) is a [[French Canadian]] [[professional]] [[ice hockey|hockey]] player who currently plays for the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] of the [[National Hockey League]].
==Playing career==
Vincent Lecavalier was drafted first overall by Tampa Bay in the [[1998 NHL Entry Draft]], during which new Lightning owner Art Williams proclaimed that Lecavalier would be "the [[Michael Jordan]] of hockey".<ref>{{Citation
| last = Hodges
| first = Jim
| title =Bonus Baby - hockey player Vincent Lecavalier - Brief Article
| url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_1998_Nov_9/ai_53224198
| publisher = ''[[The Sporting News]]''
| date = 1998-11-09
| accessdate = 2007-08-04}}</ref>
On [[March 11]], [[2000]], following his sophomore season, he was named captain, becoming the youngest captain in NHL history at 19 years and 11 months (since surpassed by [[Sidney Crosby]]). Previously, [[Steve Yzerman]] had held that honour, having been named captain of the [[Detroit Red Wings]] at 21 years, 5 months.<ref>[[Brian Bellows]] was named interim-captain at age 19 years, 4 months while [[Craig Hartsburg]] was out of the lineup with an injury.</ref>
Lecavalier was later stripped of the captaincy before the 2001-02 NHL season when Lightning management decided he was too young even as a high calibre player. Around that time, he clashed frequently with head coach [[John Tortorella]]. Tortorella demanded more accountability from his players, and showed this by stripping Lecavalier of the team captaincy after he missed the start of [[2001-02 NHL season|2001-02]] because of contract negotiations.
After winning the [[Stanley Cup]] with the Lightning in [[2003-04 NHL season|2004]], he was named [[Most Valuable Player]] of the Canadian National Team in the [[2004 World Cup of Hockey]], which [[Canada]] won. Lecavalier was selected to play for Team Canada at the [[2006 Olympics]], but returned to Tampa without a medal.
Lecavalier broke the all-time Tampa Bay Lightning record for most points in a season by scoring his 95th point on [[March 16]], [[2007]] against the [[Buffalo Sabres]]. The record was previously held by [[Martin St. Louis]], who had 94 points during the [[2003-04 NHL season]].
On [[March 30]], [[2007]], in a game against the [[Carolina Hurricanes]], Lecavalier became the first Lightning player to record 50 goals in a season. He finished the season with 52 goals, edging [[Ottawa Senators|Ottawa]]'s [[Dany Heatley]], who scored 50 goals, to earn the [[Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy]] as the NHL's top goal scorer for the [[2006-07 NHL season|2006-07 season]].
During the [[2007-08 NHL season]], Lecavalier recorded 8 straight multipoint games, being the first to do so since [[Jaromír Jágr|Jaromir Jagr]] in 1996. The scoring streak put him first in the NHL scoring race, until in February he was overtaken by the [[Washington Capitals]]' [[Alexander Ovechkin]]. He was named captain of the [[Eastern Conference]] at the [[2008 NHL All Star Game]].
In the 2007-2008 offseason, Lecavalier underwent shoulder surgery to repair an infraction from taking a hit against [[Matt Cooke]] of the [[Washington Capitals]]. He is scheduled to undergo another surgery on his left wrist later in the summer.
On [[July 12]], [[2008]], Lecavalier agreed to an eleven-year, $85 million contract extension with the Lightning. His new contract begins after the 2008-2009 season, and runs through the 2019-2020 season, which hopefully will see the All-Star forward end his career with the Lightning. <ref>{{citeweb|title=Lecavalier's 'lifetime' deal with Lightning|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=243275|publisher=[[The Sports Network|TSN]]|accessdate=2008-07-12|date=2008-07-12}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Attended Thorndale Elementary in Pierrefonds and then he went to John Rennie High School in Pointe-Claire, Quebec for two years ('92-'93) before transferring to Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Saskatchewan. Has been best friends with ex-Lightning center [[Brad Richards]], who won the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]] in [[2003-04 NHL season|2004]] as [[Most Valuable Player]] of the NHL Playoffs, since the age of 14, when they met at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in [[Saskatchewan]], [[Canada]]. They were roommates and became good friends. Since then they have gone on to being teammates with the [[Rimouski Océanic]] and also with the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]. Lecavalier currently resides in Tampa's Davis Islands.
He is featured in [[Maurice Richard (film)|''The Rocket: The Maurice Richard Story'']]. Lecavalier wears number 4 to honour [[Jean Béliveau]].
During the release of the video game [[NHL 06]], [[EA Sports]] featured Lecavalier as the cover boy for the game. He proceeded as the cover boy by [[Vancouver Canucks]] captain [[Markus Näslund|Markus Naslund]] while Capitals' Alexander Ovechkin succeeded him for the role.
In October 2007, Lecavalier pledged $3 million to a new All Children's Hospital facility under construction in St. Petersburg, Florida. The facility will be named the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center in his honor.
==Career statistics==
{| BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" width="75%" style="text-align:center"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" | Regular Season
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" | Playoffs
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season
! Team
! League
! GP
! [[Goal (ice hockey)|G]]
! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]]
! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]]
! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|- ALIGN="center"
| [[1996-97 NHL season|1996-97]]
| [[Rimouski Océanic]]
| [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League|QMJHL]]
| 64
| 42
| 61
| 103
| 38
| 4
| 4
| 3
| 7
| 2
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1997-98 NHL season|1997-98]]
| Rimouski Océanic
| QMJHL
| 58
| 44
| 71
| 115
| 117
| 18
| 15
| 26
| 41
| 46
|- ALIGN="center"
| [[1998-99 NHL season|1998-99]]
| [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]
| [[National Hockey League|NHL]]
| 82
| 13
| 15
| 28
| 23
| --
| --
| --
| --
| --
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1999-00 NHL season|1999-00]]
| Tampa Bay Lightning
| NHL
| 80
| 25
| 42
| 67
| 43
| --
| --
| --
| --
| --
|- ALIGN="center"
| [[2000-01 NHL season|2000-01]]
| Tampa Bay Lightning
| NHL
| 68
| 23
| 28
| 51
| 66
| --
| --
| --
| --
| --
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2001-02 NHL season|2001-02]]
| Tampa Bay Lightning
| NHL
| 76
| 20
| 17
| 37
| 61
| --
| --
| --
| --
| --
|- ALIGN="center"
| [[2002-03 NHL season|2002-03]]
| Tampa Bay Lightning
| NHL
| 80
| 33
| 45
| 78
| 39
| 11
| 3
| 3
| 6
| 22
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2003-04 NHL season|2003-04]]
| Tampa Bay Lightning
| NHL
| 81
| 32
| 34
| 66
| 52
| 23
| 9
| 7
| 16
| 25
|- ALIGN="center"
| 2004-05
| [[Ak Bars Kazan]]
| [[Russian Superleague|RSL]]
| 30
| 7
| 9
| 16
| 78
| 4
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 6
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2005-06 NHL season|2005-06]]
| Tampa Bay Lightning
| NHL
| 80
| 35
| 40
| 75
| 90
| 5
| 1
| 3
| 4
| 7
|- ALIGN="center"
| [[2006-07 NHL season|2006-07]]
| Tampa Bay Lightning
| NHL
| 82
| 52
| 56
| 108
| 44
| 6
| 5
| 2
| 7
| 10
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2007-08 NHL season|2007-08]]
| Tampa Bay Lightning
| NHL
| 81
| 40
| 52
| 92
| 89
| --
| --
| --
| --
| --
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL Totals
! 710
! 273
! 329
! 602
! 507
! 45
! 18
! 15
! 33
! 64
|}
==International play==
{{MedalTableTop|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Cup of Hockey|World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 World Cup of Hockey]] | Ice Hockey }}
{{MedalBottom}}
Lecavalier has played for [[Canadian national men's hockey team|Canada]] in:
*1998 [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Junior Championships]]
*2001 [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]]
*[[2004 World Cup of Hockey]] (gold medal)
*[[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Winter Olympics]]
===International statistics===
{| BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" ID="Table3" width=35%
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
!| Year
!| Comp
! ALIGN="center" rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! ALIGN="center" | GP
! ALIGN="center" | G
! ALIGN="center" | A
! ALIGN="center" | Pts
! ALIGN="center" | PIM
|- ALIGN="center"
| 1998
| [[Ice Hockey World Championships|WJC]]
| 7
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 4
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2001
| [[Ice Hockey World Championships|WC]]
| 7
| 3
| 2
| 5
| 29
|- ALIGN="center"
| ALIGN="center" | 2004
| ALIGN="center" | [[2004 World Cup of Hockey|WCH]]
| ALIGN="center" | 6
| ALIGN="center" | 2
| ALIGN="center" | 5
| ALIGN="center" | 7
| ALIGN="center" | 8
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2006
| [[2006 Winter Olympics|Oly]]
| 6
| 0
| 3
| 3
| 16
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan=2| Senior Int'l Totals
! ALIGN="center" | 19
! ALIGN="center" | 5
! ALIGN="center" | 10
! ALIGN="center" | 15
! ALIGN="center" | 53
|}
==Awards==
===Minor leagues===
*'''1997-98''': [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League|QMJHL]] First All-Star Team
*'''1997-98''': QMJHL [[Mike Bossy Trophy]] (Top Draft Prospect)
*'''1996-97''': QMJHL [[Michel Bergeron Trophy]] (Top Rookie Forward)
*'''1996-97''': [[Canadian Hockey League|CHL]] Rookie of the Year
*'''1997-98''': CHL First All-Star Team
===NHL===
*'''2002-03''': [[National Hockey League|NHL]] All-Star Game Participant
*'''2003-04''': [[Stanley Cup]]
*'''2006-07''': NHL All-Star Game Participant
*'''2006-07''': [[Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy]]
*'''2007-08''': NHL All-Star Game Participant (East Captain)
*'''2007-08''': [[King Clancy Trophy]]
===International===
*'''2004-05''': 2004 World Cup of Hockey [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{nhlprofile|8467329}}
*{{hockeydb|00026809}}
*[http://www.tampabaylightning.com Tampa Bay Lightning Official Site]
*[http://www.vincentlecavalier.com Vincent Lecavalier Official Site]
{{Navboxes|list1=
<span/>
{{start box}}
{{succession box | title=[[List of NHL first overall draft choices|1st Overall Pick in NHL Entry Draft]]| before=[[Joe Thornton]]| years=[[1998 NHL Entry Draft|1998]]| after=[[Patrik Štefan]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Chris Gratton]] | title = [[Tampa Bay Lightning#Team captains|Tampa Bay Lightning captains]] | years = [[1999-2000 NHL season|2000]]-[[2000-01 NHL season|01]] | after =[[Dave Andreychuk]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[NHL Series|EA Sports NHL Cover Athlete]] | before=[[Markus Näslund]] | years=NHL '06 | after=[[Alexander Ovechkin]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Jonathan Cheechoo]] | title = Winner of the [[Rocket Richard Trophy]] | years = [[2006-07 NHL season|2007]] | after = ''incumbent''}}
{{end box}}
<center><small>''Note: Lecavalier was named [[Captain (hockey)|captain]] (after Gratton was traded), late in the 1999-2000 NHL season. Lecavalier was later stripped of the captaincy after the end of the 2000-01 NHL season. It was decided by Lightning management that he was too young and had had enough pressures even as a star player.''</small></center>
{{LightningFirstPick}}
{{NHL FirstOverallDraftPicks}}
{{EA-NHL-series}}
}}
<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME = Lecavalier, Vincent
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = [[Canada|Canadian]] [[ice hockey]] [[Centre (ice hockey)|centre]]
|DATE OF BIRTH = [[April 21]], [[1980]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[L'Île-Bizard, Quebec]]
|DATE OF DEATH =
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lecavalier, Vincent}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Canadian ice hockey centres]]
[[Category:French Quebecers]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey personnel from Quebec]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:National Hockey League players with 50 goal seasons]]
[[Category:National Hockey League players with 100 point seasons]]
[[Category:National Hockey League All-Stars]]
[[Category:National Hockey League first overall draft picks]]
[[Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks]]
[[Category:Olympic ice hockey players of Canada]]
[[Category:Rimouski Oceanic alumni]]
[[Category:Rocket Richard Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Stanley Cup champions]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Lightning draft picks]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Lightning players]]
[[cs:Vincent Lecavalier]]
[[de:Vincent Lecavalier]]
[[fr:Vincent Lecavalier]]
[[lv:Vinsents Lekavaljē]]
[[ru:Лекавалье, Венсан]]
[[sk:Vincent Lecavalier]]
[[fi:Vincent Lecavalier]]
[[sv:Vincent Lecavalier]]