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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 9, 2001
TAMPA -- The trade rumors, it appears, may never cease.
Vinny Lecavalier spent part of Thursday morning dismissing another trade scenario and reconfirming his desire to stay with the Lightning.
"They're just rumors," the center said. "It doesn't affect me at all. It's not a big deal."
The New York Post reported a possible swap that would send the 21-year-old to the Devils in return for Bobby Holik, Scott Gomez and John Madden or a combination thereof.
"I just know in hockey and baseball and any sport, you always hear those things," Lecavalier said. "Ninety-nine percent of the time it doesn't happen. It's the ones you don't expect that do happen. I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about anybody."
General manager Rick Dudley dismissed the notion of a trade. "He's not totally untouchable," Dudley said. "But for all intents and purposes, he is. ... If somebody calls and says, "We'll give you five All-Stars,' would anybody be untouchable? No. That's my point."
Lecavalier, who signed a four-year deal in October, had one goal and two assists before Thursday.
"I love it down here and I'm real happy," he said. "Even though the scoring is not there, the production is not where I want it to be, I think I'm playing very well. ... I get four or five shots a game, which is really good."
ON THE SHELF: Already hurting for offense, Tampa Bay faced the Flyers without its top scorer. Right wing Martin St. Louis, who has 12 points this season, was scratched because of a bruised heel. He is day to day.
"He's our leading scorer," coach John Tortorella said. "It hurts our lineup. But it gives other people an opportunity to try and help us."
Defenseman Cory Sarich also was scratched because of a right shoulder bruise. He was expected to miss 7-10 days. Andrei Zyuzin was a healthy scratch.
LEMIEUX'S RETURN: Pittsburgh center Mario Lemieux has recovered faster than expected from hip surgery last week. But even though Lemieux skated a third time Thursday, Penguins coach Rick Kehoe said Lemieux probably will not be in the lineup against the Lightning on Saturday. "We want to make sure he's 100 percent," Kehoe said.
ODDS AND ENDS: St. Louis and right wing Matthew Barnaby will conduct a street hockey clinic for those ages 6 and older from 3-5 p.m. Sunday in the Dillard's parking lot at International Plaza. For more information, call (813) 301-6822. ... Nolan Pratt made his first appearance at the Ice Palace this season. The defenseman missed the first 11 games with a broken foot. ... Right wing Jimmie Olvestad played for the first time since injuring his shoulder against the Maple Leafs on Oct. 30.
PORTER WILL RETURN: A familiar voice has been missing from the Ice Palace -- and elsewhere. PA announcer Paul Porter has taken a leave of absence in recent weeks to help care for his ill 27-year-old stepdaughter, Stephanie Covault, who died Tuesday. She had diabetes most of her life and was scheduled to receive a kidney transplant in October, when she had a heart seizure and lapsed into a coma. Porter also has called South Florida football and Magic games since each team began and has a morning radio show on WWBA-AM 1040. He might return to the Lightning next week and is expected to be back for the Bulls' finale Nov. 24. Stephanie's mother, Jan Porter, works for the Lightning in media relations.