LOS ANGELES (AP) Vincent Lecavalier is ready for one last run at the Stanley Cup, and the Los Angeles Kings are giving him a chance.
The Kings acquired the veteran Canadian player, along with defenseman Luke Schenn, from the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday in a trade for center Jordan Weal and a third-round draft pick.
After playing sparingly for the Flyers over the past two seasons, the 35-year-old Lecavalier plans to end his 17-year NHL career this summer, according to Kings general manager Dean Lombardi.
But the once-dominant center hopes to go out with a deep postseason run, and the Pacific Division-leading Kings are prime contenders for their third Stanley Cup in five years.
”Vinny, at this stage of his career, it’s all about getting one last chance to win it all,” Lombardi said. ”I think he’s hungry, and given his mindset, I think it’s a potentially great fit in his role.”
Lecavalier has been a healthy scratch for much of the season, appearing in just seven games as his career apparently wound down with the struggling Flyers. Yet he also is a former Richard Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goal-scorer and a 108-point scorer who won the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004.
He’ll have a chance to fill a significant role down the middle with the Kings, who are in second place in the Western Conference standings.
”There’s nothing better than to be on a team that’s been there,” Lecavalier said in a phone interview conducted by the Kings. ”If you look at the standings and where they are right now, they’re obviously playing some great hockey. I know the Kings have high expectations for the players, and I love that.”
Lecavalier, who scored at least 20 goals in 13 of his first 15 NHL seasons, has 932 points in 1,170 regular-season games with the Lightning and the Flyers, who signed him as a free agent in 2013 after 14 seasons with Tampa Bay.
He scored a modest 37 points in his first season with Philadelphia, but has just 21 points while playing in only 64 games since.
25% Bonus via Western Union
