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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 27, 2001
TAMPA -- Negotiations between the Lightning and holdout center Vinny Lecavalier are about to hit critical mass.
In fact, things might be at the take-it-or-leave-it stage.
General manager Rick Dudley is planning to meet with Lecavalier and agent Kent Hughes early next week in Montreal to try to get a deal done with the 21-year-old captain.
Dudley said Wednesday night that he will bring "a number of options, more than five" to the table. But also he said, "I'm not going to negotiate. I could explain why we arrived at that."
Asked if this was a take-it-or-leave-it scenario, Dudley said, "It pretty well may be."
President Ron Campbell agreed, if only pertaining to the framework of the deals to be presented.
"From the framework, a line in the sand has been drawn, there's no question about that," he said.
Hughes said he hopes the offers will incorporate some give-and-take.
"They are going to bring us offers and hopefully those offers constitute the kind of flexibility that is going to have to be shown on both sides in order for a deal to be done. We will know them when we see them," he said.
Publicly, there has been very little movement from either side. The Lightning's starting point was a three-year, $5.35-million deal. Lecavalier's camp: two years, $6.3-million.
Campbell said "there is no question" the Lightning has increased its offer, though he declined to say how much.
It is expected at the meeting Dudley will present contract options of 1-5 years. The discussions likely will be how aspects of the contracts can be mixed and matched.
Lecavalier, who made $975,000 in base salary his first three years in the league, has been home in Montreal working out with college players preparing for their training camps.
"We want to let Vinny know he's very important for us," Dudley said. "That's why I would travel up there."
"He wants to be able in his heart of hearts to feel we have done everything we can," Campbell said. "He wants to make sure the deals and the options have been properly communicated."
Campbell reiterated the team is prepared to start the season without Lecavalier.
Asked what will happen if the meeting is not fruitful, he said, "The reality is, if you start moving into the season, he no longer has as much value. Then negotiations start to go backwards. . . . We've been trying to get it done. It just takes two sides to agree. We think we've been more than fair given the circumstances."
KHABIBULIN SHINES: Nikolai Khabibulin had 39 saves for Team White, which defeated Team Black 2-0 in a scrimmage at the Ice Palace. Coach John Tortorella called the goaltender "rock solid."
Khabibulin shrugged off the performance.
"It's a lot different when you play somebody else," he said. "You try to get it as close to a real game as possible but it's still not as intense."
Nikita Alexeev and Martin Cibak scored. Goaltender Kevin Weekes also played well, stopping 25 of 27 shots for Team Black.
CULLIMORE UPDATE: Defenseman Jassen Cullimore, out with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, skated at half speed for about 20 minutes before the scrimmage. He said he expects to be back for the Oct. 5 opener against the Islanders.
ODDS AND ENDS: Two minor-leaguers -- defensmen Kyle Kos and goalie Dieter Kochan -- were left unprotected for Friday's waiver draft. ... Left wing Gordie Dwyer (shoulder) did not play. . . . Tortorella said he will make final cuts Sunday, reducing the roster from 26 to either 22 or 23.