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Lecavalier pact still unfinished

After the sides make progress Wednesday, they fail to come to an agreement.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 5, 2001

The Lightning and representatives of holdout Vinny Lecavalier met for about seven hours Thursday at the Ice Palace but, by press time, had not crafted a new contract for the restricted free agent.

Talks were supposed to continue, but general manager Rick Dudley said there were still "a whole host of things that need to be straightened out.

"We feel we've tried pretty hard, and I'm sure they feel that they've tried pretty hard. I don't think we're that far apart, but I think there are some things that are not a slam dunk."

Publicly, the sides started far apart. The Lightning offered three years, $6-million. Lecavalier's side proposed three years, $9.45-million.

Dudley originally was not going to attend the meetings that began Wednesday but thought them so important, he cut short a scouting trip in Canada.

Also in attendance: Lightning president Ron Campbell, assistant general manager Jay Feaster, Lecavalier's agent, Kent Hughes and Mitch Frankel, president of Impact Sports, the Boca Raton firm that represents the 21-year-old captain.

Hughes declined to comment.

The day started with much promise as Dudley and Hughes seemed to make progress in an discussion over a beer Wednesday night after the formal meetings finished.

But several meetings Thursday failed to finish the deal. It is believed Hughes and Frankel are scheduled to leave Tampa today.

"I don't think we're going to stop communicating even if they leave (today)." Dudley said. "It would be nice if we could wrap it up in a short period of time. "I guess we're in a holding pattern. This is a situation that while we say and think we're not far apart, there are some issues you hope can be rectified, but you don't know that. They're firm in their beliefs."

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