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Lightning captain weathers worst season, emerges confident.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 10, 2001
WASHINGTON -- Vinny Lecavalier is sleeping much better these days. That is significant because for a while there, a few good winks were as hard to come by as a few good goals.
But as the Lightning's 20-year-old center realized that his ascent to expected superstardom would have to be worked for and would not be handed to him, the Z's, like the goals, became a bit easier to come by.
"I'm back to sleeping at night," Lecavalier said. "I wake up in the morning and feel awesome."
That Lecavalier said this Sunday morning, seven hours before Tampa Bay's season was to end against the Capitals at the MCI Center, doesn't matter. The Lightning had been waiting for a burst of confidence from its captain, who had struggled with his game since early December.
The statement provided welcome, though guarded, relief. As did five goals in his last 11 games.
"He's trying and wants to improve," coach John Tortorella said. "He has the potential to be a special player, but potential is a tough word. Potential is what you have to do to get there. Potentially, Vinny is a special player, but is he willing to take the steps to get there?"
It wasn't supposed to be this way. After a thrilling sophomore season that produced career highs of 25 goals, 42 assists and 67 points, Lecavalier was expected to shine supernova bright. Instead, he had his most difficult season.
After scoring 14 goals in his first 26 games, Lecavalier had one goal in his next 16 and then was seriously hurt for the first time in his career, missing 14 games with a fractured left foot.
The only NHL coach he had known, Steve Ludzik, was fired. One of his best friends, goaltender Dan Cloutier, was traded to the Canucks. And Tortorella was demanding a style of play in which defense mattered as much as offense, and the team concept was as important as what Lecavalier's super skills could accomplish on their own.
Lecavalier was benched in the third period of a 5-4 loss to the Sabres on Feb. 25.
The end result: nine goals in his last 42 games and season totals of 23 goals, 28 assists and 51 points. His minus-26 was one of the worst in the league.
"I felt lost," Lecavalier said. "That's the first time that had ever happened during a season. You have to adapt to a new coach as fast as possible. The goal is to win and understand what he wants from you. At first it was hard because it was different for me. I was thinking too much."
It was quite a riddle. If he concentrated on defense, that might affect his offense, which ultimately is what he is paid to produce.
Lecavalier's confidence began to waiver. Shots he would have buried in the past went wide or trickled off his stick. His passes were intercepted.
Then the media started asking questions, though Lecavalier wonders why no one seems to notice his 23 goals were only two fewer than 1999-00, in 12 fewer games.
"People forget he's 20 years old," teammate Matthew Barnaby said. "He's going to be a great hockey player for years to come."
"It's expectations," Lecavalier said. "With the season I had (in 1999-00), people expected me do 30 more points, which is normal. They expect a player to produce and get better every year. But sometimes things happen."
And sometimes you make things happen, which is why Lecavalier meets with Tortorella to talk or watch film. And the message apparently got through.
"This isn't a game," Lecavalier said, "where you can do anything you want."
He hopes to carry that ideal through his turn for Canada at this month's World Championships, where he hopes the bigger ice surface and wide-open international game will further hone his game.
And then there's the off-season.
"I'm going to work really hard this summer," Lecavalier said. "I did last summer, but I will double it this summer.
"This is such a small little part of someone's career, it won't matter in the long run. This is only going to help me."