Vincent Lecavalier would certainly have found himself with more pressure on his shoulders if the Montreal Canadiens had had the first right to speak in the 1998 NHL Draft, rather than the Tampa Bay Lightning.
On the other hand, the owner of the Lightning at the time, Art Williams, had placed very high expectations for his new colt, saying that Lecavalier would become the Michael Jordan of hockey.
Now a special advisor to hockey operations at the Canadiens, Lecavalier will be able to share his experience with the one the Habs will select first in the draft on Thursday. The Canadian will speak in the first row for the first time since 1980, when he selected Doug Wickenheiser.
“It was possibly different in Tampa, where the organization didn’t have a winning history. Management was able to be patient with me during my first season,” Lecavalier said Monday.
Lecavalier was able to count on the advice of head coach Jacques Demers, who was then at the head of the Lightning.
“He really protected me from outside pressure,” said Lecavalier. He didn’t put any pressure on me, and I had a stellar season on the third line. I was able to develop and improve by being surrounded by good veterans. »
Lecavalier had just 13 goals and 15 assists in 82 games in his first NHL campaign, while Lightning won just 19 games.
The general manager of the Canadian, Kent Hughes, pointed out that the organization has not yet put in place a concrete plan to manage the player who will be the next jewel of the organization. He stressed, however, that the approach will be the same as with the team’s other top prospects, such as defender Kaiden Guhle.
The best of yourself
Lecavalier admitted that even before his arrival in the NHL, his last season with the Rimouski Oceanic had been difficult, while he found himself in the spotlight.
He said he spoke with prospect Shane Wright about his experience over the past few days and said he hoped to do the same with Juraj Slafkovsky and Logan Cooley — the other two players in the Canadiens’ sights.
Wright was seen for several years as the hope noh 1 of the 2022 vintage, but it has lost its feathers this season in the eyes of some. Lecavalier remembers how important it was for him to be chosen first overall in 1998.
“It’s hard to explain, but yes, it was important. When the lists were published, I didn’t want to slip, to show that maybe I had an ordinary season. I wanted people to see what I was doing well, said Lecavalier. In the end, what was most important was helping my team have a good season. »
Despite this obsession with wanting to be the best, Lecavalier recalled that the rank of selection will no longer matter after the repechage.
“The player chosen in the first row will have the same objective as the one chosen in the 200e rank, which is to reach the NHL,” said Lecavalier, who played 1,212 games on the Bettman circuit.
“Perhaps getting picked in the first round will give you a quicker chance to get the ball rolling, but the reality is that once the draft is over, you have to move on,” he added. You are part of a team, and your goal is to integrate it as soon as possible. »
“You can take advantage of the moment in the draft, but it’s only a step towards fulfilling a dream. »
Lecavalier will be there to support the one on whom the Canadian will set his sights on Thursday evening. He can tell him that he will not have to become the Michael Jordan of hockey, but simply the best version of himself.