TAMPA, Fla. - Vincent Lecavalier is no longer the face of the Tampa Bay Lightning, as the team will use a compliance buyout on the captain.
Assuming he clears buyout waivers, Lecavalier will become an unrestricted free agent July 5.
The 33-year-old had US$45 million left on his contract and will be paid two-thirds of that over the next 14 years.
The Lightning will get relief from the centre's $7.727-million salary cap hit.
General manager Steve Yzerman says the economics of the new collective bargaining agreement necessitated the move.
