Pffffffftttttttt!!!!!!! What's that? That's the sound of Lightning GM Jay Feaster doing a spit-take when he heard how much money the Caps are paying Alex Ovechkin over the next 13 years. Uh, that would be $124-million. So answer this: If Ovechkin is going to make $9.54-million a season, exactly how much is Vinny Lecavalier worth?

Ovechkin is an incredible player, no doubt. Probably top five in the league. One day he just might be the best player in the world. But has he won a Cup? Has he ever led the NHL in goals? Is he the favorite, right now, to win the league MVP award? Lecavalier is all of those things. Vinny's contract runs out after next season. When he sits down to talk numbers with the Bolts, you gotta think $9.55-million a year is a starting point.

Thursday was a great day for Ovechkin. It was a great day for Lecavalier. For Feaster and the Lightning? Not so much.