Ben Bishop traded to the Los Angeles Kings. The Tampa Bay Lightning have accepted an offer for veteran goaltender Bishop to send him packing. Bishop will be bringing a 16-12-3 record and .911 save percentage to his new team. The Kings will also get a 2017 fifth round pick in the deal. In return, the Lightning will receive Peter Budaj, Eric Cernak, a 2017 7th round pick and a conditional draft pick. The Lightning will also retain 20 per cent salary in the deal.
Ben Bishop has been traded to LAK.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 26, 2017
Lightning trade Ben Bishop to Kings for Erik Cernak, Peter Budaj. Picks too. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) February 26, 2017
Tampa Bay retains 20 percent of Bishop salary/cap hit
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) February 26, 2017
Conditional pick going to TB in Bishop deal is complicated. It’s nothing if Kings miss playoffs. Can go high as a 2nd depending on success.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) February 27, 2017
Now it's official pic.twitter.com/2T7JzPdsd0
— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) February 26, 2017
Ben Bishop Traded to Los Angeles Kings
The Lightning have decided to part ways with Bishop, as rumors have been swirling around his name lately. They will now depend on Andrei Vasilevskiy in between the pipes. Vasilevskiy has been inconsistent this season, to say the least.
Despite his inconsistency this season, Vasilevskiy played in 24 games in the 2015-16 season. During this time he sported an 11-10-0 record, a 2.76 GAA, and a .910 save percentage. He hasn’t exactly improve on those numbers this season either, leaving some to scratch their heads. Despite the numbers, many have expected Vasilevskiy to develop into a starting goalie.
The Kings will be ecstatic to welcome a player of the calibre of Bishop between the pipes. Leading up to the 2016-17 season he has appeared in 231 games over his career, posting a 130-65-20 record. The 2016-17 season hasn’t been as kind to him, as all of Bishops’ stats are well below his career averages.
Bishop has played for three teams in his career before this trade. He spent two seasons with the St. Louis Blues, where he appeared in a grand total of 10 games and posted a 4-5-1 record. He then played for the Ottawa Senators for another two seasons, posting an 11-8-2 record. He got his first opportunity as a top goalie in the 2013-14 season with Tamp Bay, and up until now held a firm hold on the starting spot.
A goalie with his resume, ability, and frame is something that any team would welcome with open arms, and the Kings are surely no exception to that statement.
Ben Bishop was taken in the third round, 85th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Bishop is in the second year of a two-year/$11.9 million contract given to him by the Lightning prior to the 2015-16 season. This off-season will see Bishop become an unrestricted free agent if he does not come to terms on an extension with his new employer.
Budaj has been the Kings main goaltender this season, following the injury suffered by Jonathan Quick in the first game of the season. He is 27-20-3 with a .917 save percentage this year.
Erik Cernak has 17 points in 40 games with the Erie Otters in the OHL this season. He was the Kings second round pick, 43rd overall, in the 2015 NHL Draft. You can find his pre-draft scouting report here.
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