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Kings' Lecavalier hopes to face Lightning in Cup Final

Juan Ocampo / National Hockey League / Getty

After a Jan. 6 trade from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Los Angeles Kings, veteran forward Vincent Lecavalier agreed to retire at season's end in order to ensure one last run at a second career Stanley Cup.

"It wasn't hard at all to decide," Lecavalier said, per Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "Not at all. It's something I've been thinking about, even before that, it's not something that was because of the trade. But when it was obviously part of it, I didn't hesitate. I would have been in Philly and not played the rest of the year. For me to get an opportunity like this, it was a no-brainer."

After watching last year's final from sports bars in his former home of Tampa Bay, the 35-year-old is hoping to return to the city once again in June - but this time on the ice.

"That'd be great," he said. "I've already gotten a few texts from people, not players, but trainers in Tampa. It would be a lot of fun for sure. You never know."

Picked first overall by the Lightning in 1998, Lecavalier spent 14 seasons in Tampa, winning a Stanley Cup in 2004. The Quebec native also took home the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2007, and still holds the franchise record with 383 goals.

Now in California, Lecavalier looks rejuvenated after taking the ice just seven times this season with the Flyers. He already has eight points in 13 games with his new team, and has seen regular power-play time despite being expected to fill a bottom-six role.

While the Kings have spent most of their season atop the Pacific Division, the Lightning - after a slow start - have won 11 of 15 games and sit third in the Atlantic Division, as they look to make another deep playoff run.

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