What 20 year old goalie has ever started all year for a team a took them to the playoffs ? Goalies take time! Vasi needs to start in the ahl the whole 3 years! Knowing yzerman that's his plan.
- todd1a

Carey price

What 20 year old goalie has ever started all year for a team a took them to the playoffs ? Goalies take time! Vasi needs to start in the ahl the whole 3 years! Knowing yzerman that's his plan.
- todd1a

Some kid named Patrick Roy? Carey Price? Martin Brodeur? Yeah those are big names, but Vasi could be even better. And he has been playing with men for TWO years already.

Some kid named Patrick Roy? Carey Price? Martin Brodeur? Yeah those are big names, but Vasi could be even better. And he has been playing with men for TWO years already.
- TBolts4

Wow, wow, wow....

Vasya could be even better than Roy or Brodeur? I think your expectations might be a little high.

Wow, wow, wow....

Vasya could be even better than Roy or Brodeur? I think your expectations might be a little high.
- Michael_Stuart

Shooting for the moon!!

If Bishop has another season like last year I think we're in trouble. He will demand a multi-year contract around 6m+. And he know he will get it in free agency. He won't sign a bridge deal just until vasi is ready. If he signs long term just to be traded in a couple of seasons, why not hit free agency and get bigger dollars with a team that needs him for the next 6-7 years.

I would sign him right now to a 5y/25m contract if he would take it. If he keeps his numbers up that will be a steal and we can get a really solid return in 4 years, IF vasi is ready then. If bishops numbers drop it still won't be an albatross with a rising cap, and it wouldn't be untradeable in 4 years.
- Cloud

Ya this might put the lightning in a pickle! If bishop puts up a 1.98 gaa 93 save percentage. Then takes us on a deep playoff run we are in trouble with his contract.

Some kid named Patrick Roy? Carey Price? Martin Brodeur? Yeah those are big names, but Vasi could be even better. And he has been playing with men for TWO years already.
- TBolts4

He is still a prospect we don't know yet! I'll wait till I see him play his first nhl game.

He is still a prospect we don't know yet! I'll wait till I see him play his first nhl game.
- todd1a

Bishop has only one year as a starter in this league and couldn't stay healthy. I'll admit that they rode him pretty hard, but he's 27 years old! I hope he does great again this year. But I still think, and I believe the lightning does as well, that Vasi is the future. He does need a little time in the AHL, but he wont stay there 3 years. He'll go back to the KHL before that.

Wow, wow, wow....

Vasya could be even better than Roy or Brodeur? I think your expectations might be a little high.
- Michael_Stuart

THIS.


Holy crap... everyone, pull thine collective heads for thy posteriors.

This kid has ZERO games played in the NHL.

ZERO.

Goaltending his the hardest position to predict vis a vis success at the NHL level. There's a reason they are so rarely picked early in drafts. Even Vasy, with his tremendous play overseas, still went in the later parts of the 1st round.

Even apart from goaltending, remember that Daigle kid who was supposed to be all-world ready at the forward position? There have been so many draft, over-hyped busts in the NHL that you could populate Vancouver with them.

The kid has incredible potential, but if you believe for a second that potential is worth betting the farm on, before minute ONE in the NHL, then I am very, very happy you are not in the GM seat.

THIS.


Holy crap... everyone, pull thine collective heads for thy posteriors.

This kid has ZERO games played in the NHL.

ZERO.

Goaltending his the hardest position to predict vis a vis success at the NHL level. There's a reason they are so rarely picked early in drafts. Even Vasy, with his tremendous play overseas, still went in the later parts of the 1st round.

Even apart from goaltending, remember that Daigle kid who was supposed to be all-world ready at the forward position? There have been so many draft, over-hyped busts in the NHL that you could populate Vancouver with them.

The kid has incredible potential, but if you believe for a second that potential is worth betting the farm on, before minute ONE in the NHL, then I am very, very happy you are not in the GM seat.
- OzBolts

Just saying that this kid's ceiling is high, very, very high. Have you watched him play? At all? He was one of the best tenders in the KHL last season. The KHL is not the juniors. Its a professional league. The second best in the world after the NHL. Bishop has had one great season and everyone is already handing him a 6 year contract worth 30+ Mil... If i remember correctly, He got hurt, a lot this past year. Are we really ready to hand him a long term contract with his injury past? Knowing he's only had one year starting full time? He only has 108 games in the NHL. Its not like he's a season veteran!

THIS.


Holy crap... everyone, pull thine collective heads for thy posteriors.

This kid has ZERO games played in the NHL.

ZERO.

Goaltending his the hardest position to predict vis a vis success at the NHL level. There's a reason they are so rarely picked early in drafts. Even Vasy, with his tremendous play overseas, still went in the later parts of the 1st round.

Even apart from goaltending, remember that Daigle kid who was supposed to be all-world ready at the forward position? There have been so many draft, over-hyped busts in the NHL that you could populate Vancouver with them.

The kid has incredible potential, but if you believe for a second that potential is worth betting the farm on, before minute ONE in the NHL, then I am very, very happy you are not in the GM seat.
- OzBolts

Great post.

I'm all for being cautious with Bishop. If you could get him to agree to a shorter term deal with bigger dollars, that'd be ideal. I'm not scared of the money, but term could really screw things around.

Whats vasy's corsi compared to bishop's?

THIS.


Holy crap... everyone, pull thine collective heads for thy posteriors.

This kid has ZERO games played in the NHL.

ZERO.

Goaltending his the hardest position to predict vis a vis success at the NHL level. There's a reason they are so rarely picked early in drafts. Even Vasy, with his tremendous play overseas, still went in the later parts of the 1st round.

Even apart from goaltending, remember that Daigle kid who was supposed to be all-world ready at the forward position? There have been so many draft, over-hyped busts in the NHL that you could populate Vancouver with them.

The kid has incredible potential, but if you believe for a second that potential is worth betting the farm on, before minute ONE in the NHL, then I am very, very happy you are not in the GM seat.
- OzBolts

this

Great post.

I'm all for being cautious with Bishop. If you could get him to agree to a shorter term deal with bigger dollars, that'd be ideal. I'm not scared of the money, but term could really screw things around.
- Michael_Stuart

If he would agree to a 5 year 25 million dollar deal I'd do it now!

If he would agree to a 5 year 25 million dollar deal I'd do it now!
- todd1a

Amount of money and term are not the issues! The issue is whether he wants a no movement clause or a no trade clause. If he has another season or similar season to last year then pay him what he's worth, just don't give them the ability to say no to a trade.

Amount of money and term are not the issues! The issue is whether he wants a no movement clause or a no trade clause. If he has another season or similar season to last year then pay him what he's worth, just don't give them the ability to say no to a trade.
- Artyukhin76

Odds are it will be a Ntc not a no movement clause. Unless bishop leads us to the cup! Then he will get what he wants!

3 years 19 mil for Bishop, full NMC. Vasi will be ready to take over at the end of that contract. You might get Bishop to waive in that 3rd year if Vasi starts to play to his potential by then.

3 years 19 mil for Bishop, full NMC. Vasi will be ready to take over at the end of that contract. You might get Bishop to waive in that 3rd year if Vasi starts to play to his potential by then.
- Rocktane

ya we all would love to give bishop a 3 year contract but i'm sure ben wants 5 or 6 years

If Bishop seems back to normal to start the season, I think you have to get him under contract. I don't think the money and term will go back as badly against the Bolts as you all seem to think. Unless he takes us to the Stanley Cup Final his options in free agency will be limited. Who sees him wanting to go to Winnipeg or Buffalo? Pitt could be a problem, but there are very good goalies, mostly locked up long term, in most of the markets that look to be serious contenders over the next couple seasons. Some of the other teams like Pitt and Chicago, even if they wanted to dump their starter, they have cap issues to contend with. I think 4 years at $5.5 Mil might be workable. NTC only and a good chance at winning a cup.

Just saying that this kid's ceiling is high, very, very high. Have you watched him play? At all? He was one of the best tenders in the KHL last season. The KHL is not the juniors. Its a professional league. The second best in the world after the NHL. Bishop has had one great season and everyone is already handing him a 6 year contract worth 30+ Mil... If i remember correctly, He got hurt, a lot this past year. Are we really ready to hand him a long term contract with his injury past? Knowing he's only had one year starting full time? He only has 108 games in the NHL. Its not like he's a season veteran!
- TBolts4

Sure have.


108 games ain't much... but it's 108 more than zero.

Deify him all you want, and I HOPE you're right... but man oh man, I'm glad you aren't running TB.

If Bishop seems back to normal to start the season, I think you have to get him under contract. I don't think the money and term will go back as badly against the Bolts as you all seem to think. Unless he takes us to the Stanley Cup Final his options in free agency will be limited. Who sees him wanting to go to Winnipeg or Buffalo? Pitt could be a problem, but there are very good goalies, mostly locked up long term, in most of the markets that look to be serious contenders over the next couple seasons. Some of the other teams like Pitt and Chicago, even if they wanted to dump their starter, they have cap issues to contend with. I think 4 years at $5.5 Mil might be workable. NTC only and a good chance at winning a cup.
- Don in St. Pete

I could see pitt, wash, wild, blues, sharks, flyers, Dallas as "playoff-teams" to be takers on Bishop.

I could see pitt, wash, wild, blues, sharks, flyers, Dallas as "playoff-teams" to be takers on Bishop.
- Cloud

the penguins would target bishop maf is off the books next year!

I could see pitt, wash, wild, blues, sharks, flyers, Dallas as "playoff-teams" to be takers on Bishop.
- Cloud

you kidding me?

the flyers have steve mason. he's probably as good as patrick roy or martin brodeur.

This is the defenseman I'm really excited about coming up.

http://www.thehockeynews....ik-masin-is-a-wanted-man/

the penguins would target bishop maf is off the books next year!
- todd1a

And We could target MAF!!!!

And We could target MAF!!!!
- Artyukhin76

Please no. He's bad.