The Tampa Bay Lightning claim to have agreed a contract extension with All-Star center Vincent Lecavalier.

The 28-year-old scored 40 goals and had 92 points in 81 games last season.

Canadian television reported that the Eastern Conference All-Star captain is to put pen-to-paper on a $77 million, nine-year deal to replace the $7 million dollar a year contract that expires in 2009.

"From a coach's point of view, this guy is the franchise," new Lightning head coach Barry Melrose added. "He has made a huge commitment to stay in Tampa Bay.

"He could have become a free agent [in July 2009] and went to Montreal and become the highest-paid player in the NHL.

"But he wanted to stay and play in Tampa and make this team great again and challenge again [for the Stanley Cup]. You have to reward a player like that, and the ownership did.

"He is going to be a Tampa Bay Lightning probably until he retires. And Oren and Len [Barrie] and the ownership group felt very, very good about that."

Lecavalier was named captain of Tampa Bay aged 19 but was soon stripped of the post by recently-sacked coach John Tortorella. He is, however, expected to be returned to the role for the 2008/09 season.

He is expected to sign on July 1.

Reda Maher / Eurosport