Alex Tanguay to the Lightning?

Posted Jul 20, 2009 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jul 20, 2009 at 01:39 PM

Nobody is officially talking about Tampa Bay’s interest in courting right wing Alex Tanguay, but there is interest from the Lightning’s side. Whether that is reciprocated or not is another story, but there is believed to be at least some interest from Tanguay.

The biggest question mark regards how much of a salary that Tanguay is seeking. Some report suggest he is looking for a contract that pays him $5 million per season, which is close to the $5.375 million he made last season with Montreal. If he is seeking that from Tampa, it’s not going to happen for obvious reasons.

But Lightning general manager Brian Lawton has been on the record saying he would like to fine one-more, top-six forward and Tanguay is the best of the remaining unrestricted free agents on the market. There also happens to be a spot open on Vinny Lecavalier right wing, and Tanguay would seem a perfect fit to join his fellow Quebec native who also happened to be picked 11 spots behind Lecavalier in the 1998 draft.

Now, factor in this, as well - Tanguay played under Lightning head coach Rick Tocchet who was an assistant in Colorado during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons and word is Tanguay wouldn’t mind playing under Tocchet in Tampa.

Earlier false reports stated that Tanguay had reached a deal with the Florida Panthers, which were obviously later proved to be off base and wrong. And the longer Tanguay stays out there - and the hope is a bidding war ensues between competing teams - the less likely he is to receive that big pay day of a contract this summer.

But if Tanguay really wants that pay day, one would think it best to sign a one-year contract to help redeem himself after an injury-plagued season with the Canadiens last season (a shoulder injury, by the way, which happened when Evgeny Artyukhin checked Tanguay into the boards during a game in Tampa) and try his luck on the open market next season provided he enjoys a productive year. Playing alongside Lecavalier and presumably a resurrected Vinny Prospal certainly couldn’t hurt that cause.

Tanguay can be a productive player. He had 81 points in 81 games with Calgary in 2006-07 and has scored 60 or more points in five times in nine seasons. Last year he had 41 points in 50 games, which equates out to 67 points in a full season. He has also registered 40 or more assists six times in his career and 25 or more goals five times.

If Tanguay would be willing to accept a contract in the range of $2.5 million, then the Lightning would love to add him to a revamped roster that has already seen defensemen Mattias Ohlund, Matt Walker, Kurtis Foster and Victor Hedman along with goaltender Antero Niittymaki and forward Stephane Veilleux brought on board

If the Lightning can convince Tanguay it would be in his best interest to try and build his resume back up by playing on a line with Lecavalier for a season (or two) it would be the icing on the cake of what has already been a successful summer.

It’s nothing definite at this point, as Tanguay’s agent said his client is in discussions with several teams, but it is definitely an intriguing thought for the team, the player and Lightning fans alike.