It has been a while, but the captain's "C" has returned to Vinny Lecavalier's uniform.

   And even in an offseason of change, who else could it be?

   It is hard to believe that Vinny is entering his 11th NHL season with the Bolts.  Remember he's still only 28.  Yet, he is still the Lightning's all-time leading scorer.  And he owns just about every key franchise record there is.

   That doesn't even count the fact that he led the Lightning to the Stanley Cup.  And he's rated one of the best players in the world.

   Vinny was the first overall pick in the 1998 NHL Draft.  Few #1 picks can live up to the hype, yet Vinny has pulled it off.

   And add in the fact that Vinny is a rock in the community.  The $3-million pledge to construct the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer Center is only a start.

   No wonder the new owners signed Vinny to a $77-million dollar deal to keep him with the Bolts for the rest of his career.

  Al Keck