Lightning general manager Brian Lawton insists that Vincent Lecavalier won’t be traded, even though his 11-year, $85 million contract kicks in this summer – complete with a no-movement clause.

“We’re not going to trade Vinny Lecavalier,” Lawton said, according to the Tampa Tribune. “I’m going to say, ‘never,’ so I don’t have to deal with it . . . I’ll say never right now . . . You can usually say you should never say never, but because people have taken such liberties with that whole deal, we never shopped Vinny Lecavalier.

“Did people ask about him? Of course. Who wouldn’t? Were we actively calling teams? No. We never did and we never will . . . Let’s leave it at that, so I don’t have to answer any questions.”

On the other hand, the team could move Mark Recchi, Marek Malik and Gary Roberts. Those moves could help determine the market value for Blues forward Keith Tkachuk.

“I think we’ll be pretty active because of our situation,” Lawton told the Tribune. “We’ve got some real good veteran players capable of helping teams down the stretch. I think people are going to have interest in them. The clock is ticking and we have until a week from Wednesday to make some decisions.” The clock is ticking and we have until a week from Wednesday to make some decisions.”

TOM RENNEY WAS DOOMED

Glen Sather assembled a soft, vastly overpaid team and asked a cerebral coach to lead it. The Rangers were doomed to fail.

New coach John Tortorella will at least challenge them. Hockey Guy isn’t sure it will do much good, but his hiring was worth a shot. The man is fiery.

TELLING ALEX TO CHILL

Hockey Guy loves Alexander Ovechkin’s skill and spunk. He scores, he hits and he entertains.

But Penguins star Sid Crosby found his behavior in Sunday’s Pittsburgh-Washington game unbecoming for a NHL superstar.

“He taunts and does those things,” Crosby told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I don’t think that’s the way to play. I’m all for playing hard. I think he’s a great player. He plays hard. There’s no doubt he’s a tough guy to play against. But he doesn’t need to take runs.

“He went after [Evgeni Malkin's] head probably three shifts before he went after me. He’s hitting to hurt.”

So somebody might want to hit back. It’s just a thought.

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

Once again, a Blues prospect made weekly Hot List on the Hockey News’ site:

Simon Hjalmarsson, RW – Boras HC (Swe.): The young right winger had a pretty solid world juniors playing with ‘Ultra’ Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, but he has also put up numbers consistently this year in Sweden’s second-best league, the Allsvenskan. Hjalmarsson has nine points in his past 11 games for a total of 31 in 38. He’s also a plus-9 on the year. Drafted 39th overall by St. Louis in 2007.

AROUND THE RINKS: Hockey Guy was disappointed to see Yan Stastny exposed to waivers. He returned from his conditioning stint in Peoria, then got sent down to Peoria as defenseman Tyson Strachan returned after one game with the Rivermen. . . The Canadiens still must figure out what to do with Alexi Kovalev as the trade deadline nears . . . The Blue Jackets got bigger by claiming Chris Gratton on waivers from Tampa Bay, but we’re not sure they got better . . . Defenseman Chris Campoli quickly made a mark for the Senators, earning two assists in his first game since arriving from the Islanders with Mike Comrie in a trade . . . Flames winger Todd Bertuzzi has reward Mike Keenan’s confidence in clutch time. He has scored three game-winning goals in regulation, plus an overtime goal and two decisive shootout goals . . . The Red Wings gave Chris Osgood a two-game break, opting not to start him or dress him as the backup. But he will be back in goal against LA Friday night . . . Old Friend Patrick Lalime will start in goal for the Sabres for at least the next few weeks as Ryan Miller recovers from an ankle sprain. He has won just twice this season, but he did win 16 games as a fill-in for the Blackhawks last season . . . The Bruins have won just one of their last seven games, but they get winger Michael Ryder (broken face) back in the lineup as they start a six-game homestand.