The worst part of his deal isn’t that Lecavalier is getting paid ~8 million for his 65 point production now, though that’s pretty bad – it’s that he’s signed for another 7 years, until he’s 40.
Even if, dream scenario, Vinny’s like Sundin and he doesn’t really decline much during that time, I think the Leafs will still rue his contract. But a vast majority of players aren’t Sundin. Vinny is already more injury prone. And players decline when they hit their mid-30s. Do you really want to have an $8 million dollar 50 point player on the Leafs payroll during prime contending years for this core?
I think what the Hawks and Bruins have that the Leafs don’t are elite two-way players… the Toews and the Hossas and Bergerons. IMO, even though he plays wing, Hossa would help this team more than Lecavalier would. It’s not just size up the middle that the Leafs need. I mean, the Leafs didn’t have trouble scoring – and that was without Lupul and Gardiner for most of the year. They were a poor defensive team, and unlike Toews and Hossa and Bergeron, you can’t rely on Kessel, Lupul, Kadri to defend a lead. But Lecavalier doesn’t address that either.
