Lecavalier = $77 million over nine years

[Captain Chaos]

Looks like Sid has set the bar.

LECAVALIER STAYING IN TAMPA WITH $77 MILLION DEAL
BOB MCKENZIE
6/25/2008 11:28:33 AM

The final touches are still being worked on and nothing can be formally announced until July 1, but sources tell TSN the Tampa Bay Lightning and superstar centre Vinny Lecavalier have agreed to terms on a mega-deal that will pay him $77 million over nine years.

The annual salary cap hit to the Lightning will be about $8.55 million for the length of the contract, but the final year of the contract is said to be only for about $3 million, which means that if Lecavalier retired after eight seasons, his average salary would be as much as $9.4 million.

The deal comes with the expected "no-movement" clause and should guarantee that Lecavalier will finish his NHL career with the team that drafted him No. 1 overall.

Sources say there are still some minor structuring aspects of contract required for it to become complete, but the announcement should made on or sometime just after July 1.

Lecavalier, 28, was entering the final season of a four-year, $27.5 million contract where he will earn $7.167 million.