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Flyin’ High: Philly signs Lecavalier -- five years, $22.5 million

Vincent Lecavalier

Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier celebrates after goal against the Washington Capitals during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference semifinal series Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

AP

The Philadelphia Flyers have pulled the first major stunner of free agency.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Philly has won the Vincent Lecavalier sweepstakes, but at a price:

Five years, $22.5 million, an average annual cap hit of $4.5 million.

The move is wild on a number of fronts.

One, Philadelphia had already spent a ton of money this offseason buying out players, namely $28 million in total salary to Ilya Bryzgalov and Daniel Briere.

While those moves did give the Flyers some wiggle room, the Lecavalier deal puts them $300,000 over the cap -- though that figure includes Chris Pronger’s deal ($4.9 million), which will be put on long-term injured reserve.

Of course, that doesn’t put Philly out of the woods.

The club is still looking for a goalie to work alongside Steve Mason, has pressing needs on defense, already expressed an interest in bringing back Simon Gagne and -- next season -- needs to re-up with key RFAs Claude Giroux, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier.

(That’s going to prove difficult, considering Philly has $43.5 million committed to 13 players for 2014-15.)

As for Lecavalier, the former Bolts captain ends days of speculation about his playing future with this signing.

He’d already ruled out Detroit and Dallas -- two prominent suitors -- and, prior to inking in Philly, seemed to be leaning toward either Boston or a return to his hometown province of Quebec and the Canadiens.

The 33-year-old now stands to make a boatload of money over the next half decade. His Tampa Bay buyout will net him $2.3 million annually (over the next 14 seasons) while his new deal with Philly earns a cool $4.5 million per.

What’s more, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reports Lecavalier’s deal features a full no-movement clause, which will likely keep him in Philly until he’s 38. RDS’ Renaud Lavoie says the deal will play $6 million in salary next year and 2014-15, $4.5 million in 2015-16, and $3 million in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

One more thing to note? Lecavalier carries the exact same cap hit as defenseman Braydon Coburn ($4.5 million), believed to be a trade target for a number of NHL clubs.