Vincent Lecavalier AK Kazan Bears Jersey

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". On March 1, 2000, following his sophomore season, he was named captain, becoming the youngest captain in NHL history at 19 years and 314 days (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. Lecavalier however never fulfilled expectations and 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 because of contract negotiations.

Tortorella has since noted that Lecavalier has matured and become a less selfish player since losing the team captaincy. During the 2003–04 NHL season, while Martin St. Louis led in regular season scoring and Brad Richards led in the playoffs, Lecavalier played a key role in the team's Stanley Cup victory, assisting on the Cup-clinching goal. He was named MVP of the Canadian National Team in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, which Canada won. During the lockout which canceled the 2004–05 NHL season, Lecavalier, along with Lightning teammates Nikolai Khabibulin and Brad Richards, played for Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian Superleague. Lecavalier scored 16 points as Kazan finished 4th in the league and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Vincent Lecavalier
Center
Born Apr 21 1980  -- Ile Bizard, PQ 
Height 6.04 -- Weight 208 -- Shoots L  

Selected by Tampa Bay Lightning round 1 #1 overall 1998 NHL Entry Draft

                                            --- Regular Season ---
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM
------------------------------------------------------------------
2004-05  Kazan Ak-Bars               Russi  30    7    8   15   78

Vincent Lecavalier Ak Kazan Bears Jersey