Stanley Cup champion wrote an heartfelt message for his former fans prior to his jersey retirement!

The Tampa Bay Lightning will retire Vincent Lecavalier jersey before tonight's game against the Los Angeles Kings. The former first overall pick in 1998 took this opportunity to write an heartfelt letter to his former fans. This letter was published in the Tampa Bay Times, in a full page ad bought by Lecavalier himself.

Drafted first overall by the Lightning in 1998, Lecavalier played 1,212 games in the NHL with the Lightning, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings, scoring 421 goals and 528 assists for a total of 949 points. He also added 56 points in 75 playoff games. Lecavalier helped Tampa Bay to win their first and only Stanley Cup in 2004. 

Tampa Bay bought out Lecavalier's contract after the 2012-2013 season. He then signed with the Flyers as a free agent, before being traded to the Kings in 2016. He retired after this season, after the Kings lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Lecavalier won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Award for the 2006-2007 season.