Happy Vinny Prospal Part II Day. On this day in 2004, while basking in the glow of their first Stanley Cup win, but with a lockout pending, the Tampa Bay Lightning made a trade to bring back an old favorite. They swapped a second round pick in 2005 for Vinny Prospal. As an unrestricted free agent the previous season Prospal chose Anaheim’s $16.5 million, 5-year contract over the $13.75 million, 5-year offer the Lightning made.
After just a season with the Ducks, he returned to the Lightning and was reunited with Vinny Lecavalier (who had pushed GM Jay Feaster to not let Prospal leave in the first place).