Lecavalier in sync with expectations

TAMPA -- This is a story about perceptions, about how they are formed and their consequences. It is not about right or wrong because nobody wins that debate.

It is about Vinny Lecavalier's season, about how his perception of what it takes to play in the NHL is evolving and how the team's perception of its responsibility to its players has changed.

Lecavalier is starting to get it. In fits and starts during the past few weeks, but especially in his past two games, the 21-year-old center has shown glimpses of what lies below the surface of his tattered season.

And he has done it, though he may not want to admit it, using the formula prescribed by coach John Tortorella.

He has battled for the puck and skated with purpose. He has gone to the net, thrown the body and has been ready to fight.

He did not score or get an assist Thursday against the Canadiens or Saturday against the Senators, but he forced you to notice him. He must strive for consistency (and he needs to win more faceoffs), but if he keeps it up, the points will come.

You have to believe Lecavalier has too much talent and too much pride in his game to let perceptions and a justifiably bruised ego get in the way of being the franchise player the Lightning has promoted.

It is not difficult to identify where the bruising occurred.

When Lecavalier ended his holdout by agreeing to a four-year, $10.2-million deal, he wanted to charter a plane from his home in Montreal to ensure he would be in Tampa the next day for the Lightning's season opener against the Islanders.

Lecavalier flew commercial, but it was not until he arrived that he was told he would be held out of Tampa Bay's first two games to catch up on the conditioning he missed in training camp.

Then came the news he had lost his captaincy.

Regardless of whether those decisions were correct, the messages sent were not positive for a player who, as Lecavalier said, "didn't have a bad day in my life" before this season.

Losing the captaincy to be one of three associates was a devastating blow and one Lecavalier could have perceived as retribution for his holdout. Tortorella said it was a way to relieve some pressure.

General manager Jay Feaster admitted it was handled badly and put the blame on the team for not better communicating to Lecavalier its intentions.

"We certainly didn't do things right from our end," Feaster said.

The message Tortorella sent on the ice, however, was correct. He demanded Lecavalier play "a complete game," one in which Lecavalier worried about more than offense.

Tortorella demands this of all players, but the adjustment for Lecavalier was huge.

Think about it. Here is a player who for years was given the puck and a pat on the back. It was that way in juniors and under former Lightning coach Steve Ludzik.

But what is the point of scoring 25 to 30 goals a season if the opposition is scoring double that while you are on the ice?

When Lecavalier did not play well -- and considering his 14 goals and 16 assists in 68 games, his lowest totals since his rookie season, that happened often -- Tortorella took away his ice time, and perceptions again took control.

Tortorella could not believe in him as a player, Lecavalier thought, if he was not providing enough playing time for him to get into the flow of the game. In Tortorella's world, ice time is earned.

Lecavalier requested a trade in late November, and former general manager Rick Dudley was ready to accommodate him until team president Ron Campbell intervened.

Lecavalier, who thought he was going to be traded -- if you were going to change jobs, how focused would you be? -- was in an even more uncertain and uncomfortable situation.

That is why Feaster declared that Lecavalier will not be traded. He wants Lecavalier's mind in Tampa. He wants him to know he will be in the Lightning's training camp next season. He wants him to know, to put it bluntly, there is no choice.

There are signs perceptions are changing.

When Lecavalier put into practice against the Canadiens suggestions from associate coach Craig Ramsay -- driving to the net using his body to shield the puck and keeping his speed at the blue line so as not to cause offsides and turnovers -- Lecavalier was buoyed by his success.

Tortorella noticed and played Lecavalier, who is averaging 17:14 of ice time, 19:41 against the Senators.

Ramsay said there is "no doubt in my mind" Lecavalier wants to become a complete player. "And he will do it."

Lecavalier can thank Tortorella for that later when perception becomes reality.