{"id":503,"date":"2016-09-06T00:03:12","date_gmt":"2016-09-06T04:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=503"},"modified":"2016-09-06T00:06:06","modified_gmt":"2016-09-06T04:06:06","slug":"calgary-flames-right-acquire-brian-elliott-ben-bishop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2016\/09\/06\/calgary-flames-right-acquire-brian-elliott-ben-bishop\/","title":{"rendered":"Calgary Flames Wise To Add Brian Elliott Over Ben Bishop"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Calgary Flames<\/strong>\u00a0biggest\u00a0need this summer was to make an upgrade in goal. They had plenty of options before settling on Brian Elliott<\/a><\/strong>. It has recently become public they were close to trading for <\/a>Ben Bishop<\/a><\/strong>. So close in fact, that Bishop and the Flames were negotiating a contract extension.<\/p>\n

Bishop was a Vezina Trophy candidate last season, but the Flames made the right call in acquiring\u00a0<\/strong>Elliott instead.<\/p>\n

Calgary Flames Wise To Add Brian Elliott<\/a> Over Ben Bishop<\/a><\/h2>\n

Bishop certainly would have given the Flames elite-level goaltending. The 6\u20197\u201d netminder was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues<\/strong>. By 2011-12, the Blues had Jaroslav Halak<\/a><\/strong> and Elliott at the NHL level, while\u00a0Bishop was splitting time with Jake Allen<\/a><\/strong> in the American Hockey League.<\/p>\n

The Denver, Colorado native started 38 games with the Peoria Rivermen<\/strong> in the 2011-12 season and posted a 2.26 goals-against average (GAA) with a .928 save percentage (SV%). To clear up the logjam in goal, Bishop was dealt to the Ottawa Senators<\/strong> for a second round pick.<\/p>\n

A year later, and having posted solid numbers with both the Binghamton and Ottawa Senators, Bishop was on the move again. He was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning <\/strong>for Cory Conacher<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and a fourth round draft pick.<\/p>\n

Bishop has been one of the league\u2019s best goaltenders since arriving in Tampa Bay. He has been their starter for the past three seasons, and is tied with Braden Holtby<\/a><\/strong> for most wins (112) in that time. He also has the fifth best GAA (2.20) and fifth highest SV% (.922) since the 2013-14 season.<\/p>\n

Elliott Came Cheaper Than Bishop Would Have<\/h2>\n

One\u00a0problem with acquiring Bishop would have been asking price. It\u2019s safe to say the 29 year old would be worth much more today than when he was previously traded.<\/p>\n

It was rumoured around the draft that the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/strong> were asking the Flames for the sixth overall pick in exchange for\u00a0Marc-Andre Fleury<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Obviously the Flames were hesitant to include their first round pick in any deal, but the Lightning would have had similarly high demands for their number one goalie. It\u2019s doubtful the Flames would have moved the sixth pick for Bishop. However, they would have had to include a good prospect \u2013 say Rasmus Andersson \u2013 with the second round pick to land Bishop.<\/p>\n

Elliott’s Cap Hit More Manageable<\/h2>\n

Another reason that Elliott fits better with the current Flames roster is his cap hit. Both Elliott and Bishop will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the upcoming season. Bishop\u2019s current cap hit is $5.95 million while Elliott will earn $2.5 million.<\/p>\n

According to www.generalfanager.com<\/a>, the Flames currently have about $8.5 million in cap space. However, Calgary still has to re-sign John Gaudreau<\/a><\/strong> who could eat up every penny of that space.<\/p>\n

Trading for Elliott instead of Bishop saved the Flames about $3.5 million in cap space for next season. The team was able to use that to sign Troy Brouwer<\/a><\/strong> this summer, who upgrades the team on right wing. A signing they could not have made if Bishop was on the payroll.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s impossible to predict the future, but with his playoff track record Bishop will\u00a0be looking at a much higher payday than Elliot next summer. Bishop helped the Lightning reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2015. He posted an impressive 2.18 GAA and a .921 SV% in 25 games.<\/p>\n

Last season, Bishop was even better in the postseason before injury knocked him out early in the Eastern Conference Final. He had a 1.86 GAA and .939 SV%, leading the Lightning to the third round, before a season-ending knee injury.<\/p>\n

Elliott had a great playoff run with St. Louis last season. However, it was the first real stretch of postseason games for the 31-year-old. Bishop is\u00a0two years younger. With his\u00a0track record in the playoffs, this\u00a0will lead to a bigger contract for the American next year.<\/p>\n

Elliott Among League’s Best Goaltenders<\/h2>\n

The best reason for acquiring Elliott, is that he has quietly been one of the best goaltender\u2019s in the league for a long period of time. Over the past three seasons, Elliott\u2019s .923 SV%\u00a0percentage ranks fourth best and his 2.12 GAA\u00a0is tied with Carey Price<\/a> as the lowest in the league.<\/p>\n

To sum up, the Flames gave up less to get Elliott, saved enough money to add Brouwer and acquired a goaltender with better numbers than Bishop in the past three years.<\/p>\n

The Flames were very close to adding Bishop at the draft in June, but made the right choice by ending negotiations with the Lightning and turning their attention to Elliott.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n