TAMPA - Vinny Lecavalier is not planning to sit around his Montreal apartment if a lockout wipes out next season. The Lightning center said he, through agent Kent Hughes, is exploring playing in Europe.
"Of course, I'm thinking about Europe," Lecavalier said Thursday. "Obviously, I'd like to be here. But if we can't get a deal going with the (collective-bargaining agreement), I'm sure a lot of players will go over there."
Lecavalier said he has not made any deals, and is not sure it will happen even if the season is canceled.
"We're just kind of looking around," he said. "Just in case."
The current CBA is set to run out on Sept. 15. The owners want to lower the amount of revenue going to player salaries. The players have snubbed their noses at what they perceive as a salary cap.
"I'm sure both sides are going to work hard to get a deal done," Lecavalier said. "But we've said we're not going to have a salary cap, and that's that."
Lecavalier is not the only Tampa Bay player thinking about Europe.
Defenseman Pavel Kubina has said he will play in his native Czech Republic. Wing Dmitry Afanasenkov has said he will play in his native Russia. Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin has said he has not decided.
Lecavalier said playing the European game on the larger international ice is a way to ensure he is in shape when the NHL season begins.
"The European leagues with their great skating and skills is a way to do that," Lecavalier said. "It's totally different hockey, but a great opportunity."
It's an opportunity that has pitfalls.
Many European teams allow only a certain number of foreign players. The question is, do they want to use those spots on players who will leave when the NHL gets going.
Lecavalier also would make substantially less than the $4.6-million he is supposed to get with Tampa Bay. Then again, it's better than the nothing he will get if there is a lockout.
As Lecavalier said, "I'm sure the Europeans know the NHL players' situation."
"My hope is we won't get to that point," Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said. "But to the extent that does happen, just as each individual team in the NHL has to do what is in its own best interests, that's how players are too."
For Lecavalier, that is staying in shape.
"Vinny would want to be in the best shape possible to return in the event there was a sudden agreement with a new CBA," Hughes said. "There are any number of ways and means we'll explore to help him do that. One of those may be Europe when the time is right. It's not appropriate right now."
