I am on vacation this week in LongBoat Key, Florida visiting family and met up with a Tampa Bay Lightning source yesterday. We discussed A LOT regarding the Bolts and their future, including of course the future of Steven Stamkos...which is no more clear than it was a year ago.
My source said, "There is of course concern over Stamkos, but there is almost no point in worrying about it at this time since we really don't have any control over the situation...the money will be there for Steven and every indication is he wants to finish his career here, but the CBA gives him the right to play elsewhere if he chooses to. What we are more concerned with is what is going to happen with our goalies."
Ben Bishop is having a phenomenal season...again. Last year Bishop was an ultimate warrior leading Tampa to the Final and playing against the mighty Hawks on essentially one leg. Bishop is very much in the running for the Vezina, and were Holtby not having a record challenging season Bishop would likely win the award.
Ben Bishop has one more year after this one at 5.9 for Tampa, and after that he will become a UFA. In most situations teams would be extending him for sure, but Tampa also has Vasilevskiy, who many consider anything from "The best goalie who is NOT a starter in the NHL," to "The Goalie with the most potential to be the next best goalie in the game."
And after next season Vasilevskiy's contract will also be up, except he will be an RFA and not require close to the upwards of $10M per year Bishop would get on the open market.
So Tampa probably has little choice here... Assuming Stamkos signs a mega deal in Tampa this summer, which I would still put at better than 50/50, Tampa would HAVE to consider letting Bishop go to Free Agency...unless...
"Don't rule out Bishop being part of a Blockbuster deal at the Draft. Drouin plus Bishop is incredibly appealing to many teams and could yield a top 5 pick PLUS depending on the other team's situation...."
Calgary could be all over that idea I have been told.
The Lightning could trade Bishop instead of letting him play out his pending UFA year.
Either way, 16 months from now on July 1, 2017, Bishop likely hits the market and becomes the highest paid goalie in NHL history.
What's the Buzz?
Is he worth that kind of money? Should Tampa consider moving him at the coming Draft? Should they be looking to move Vasilevskiy instead?
Mike and the gang will discuss all this and more on today's HockeyBuzzCast Live at 1pm.