Thought this was interesting coming from Oren Koules on Thursday.

While the Lightning and Vinny Lecavalier are working on a nine-year, $77-million deal, Tampa Bay's plans for Lecavalier extend a lot further. Koules, who heads OK Hockey, which is expected to officially take control of the Lightning on Monday, said he sees Lecavalier as a Lightning executive after he retires.

So, the contract may not be a lifetime deal, but the organization seems to want to make a lifetime commitment.

"We absolutely do," Koules said. "We've already talked to Vinny about it. When we talked, we talked about lifestyle, about how long he wants to live here. He wants to retire here when he's done, and he wants to be part of this. We look at Stevie Y as the exact model of what we want to do with Vinny."

That would be Steve Yzerman, who after 22 seasons with the Red Wings, moved immediately into a vice president job working with senior vice president Jimmy Devellano and general manager Ken Holland.

That would be cool with new coach Barry Melrose, who spoke of how Jean Beleveau is viewed as an icon with the Canadiens.

"I love history," Melrose said. "I love continuity of an organization. Hopefully, someday, they'll be looking up in the stands at a Tampa Bay Lightning game in the playoffs, and there will be an older, chunkier Vinny Lecavalier sitting up there as a member of the Lightning."