As has been the case all season long, Ben Bishop has been the most talked about member of the Tampa Bay Lightning in regards to trade rumors. This is is for good reason considering that the 30-year-old netminder is due to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Lightning just don't have the extra money to re-sign him.
For some time now, there have been reports that Steve Yzerman is unhappy with what teams are willing to part ways with in order to acquire his goaltender. It also does not help that there are plenty of options in regards to available goalies as we get closer to the trade deadline. In all honesty, Bishop may be one of the least attractive goalies on the market due to his upcoming UFA status and the struggles he has had this season.
The Lightning cannot afford to be finicky when exploring trades involving Bishop. It would be more beneficial to go with a "take what you can get" approach.
The reality is that this team is not making the postseason this time around. There is no reason to keep Bishop for goalie depth if their playoff chances are shot. It would make more sense to allow Andrei Vasilevskiy to receive a heavy load in net for the remainder of the season so he can be prepared for his first full year as the Bolts' number-one netminder.
Of course, Yzerman wants to get the best deal possible for any player he is looking to trade. Still, he needs to evaluate the difference between what his version of the best deal is and what teams are actually offering him.
Ben Bishop will not be a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning next season. There simply is not arguing that. Due to his departure being inevitable and Tampa being out of the playoff race, receiving "something" for Bishop, no matter what that something is, is better than letting him walk away for nothing over the summer.
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