Erik Erlendsson: Ben Bishop down, so who is Andrei Vasielvskiy? With Ben Bishop likely injured, the Lightning turn to Andrei Vasilevskiy.

We are behind you vasy ⚡️⚡️⚡️

We are behind you vasy ⚡️⚡️⚡️
- todd1a

Vasy had a great game, I hope he keeps it up.

This is an audition for Vasy to prove he can take over? Yzerman has to make a decision on Bish and Vasy and its coming real soon if the league expands.

I guess we will see how good Vasilevskiy is.

Did Johnson return last night ? I ended up just going to bed.

Nice job last night by the Bolts. This is going to be a war of attrition.

Nice job last night by the Bolts. This is going to be a war of attrition.
- Emperor Filonius

Whoever wins, I just hope they have enough players to ice a team in the finals.

I think with this latest injury to Bishop... You have to think they will trade him or leave him exposed for the expansion draft.
This is not to say he isn't a fantastic goalie. His numbers are pretty good and his playoff performances (when healthy) have been stellar, especially in series clinching games!
the problem is he seems to get injured at the most inopportune times.
What thinks you Bolts fans? Do they leave him exposed or trade him prior to an expansion draft? Vasi and Gudlevskis look like they could shoulder the load.

I think with this latest injury to Bishop... You have to think they will trade him or leave him exposed for the expansion draft.
This is not to say he isn't a fantastic goalie. His numbers are pretty good and his playoff performances (when healthy) have been stellar, especially in series clinching games!
the problem is he seems to get injured at the most inopportune times.
What thinks you Bolts fans? Do they leave him exposed or trade him prior to an expansion draft? Vasi and Gudlevskis look like they could shoulder the load.
- mlindsay

Hard to say, I'd keep Vasilesky just cause of how much upside and potential he has, but Bishop has already proven himself as a top goaltender in the league. Tough decision for Yzerman and the Lightning, it'll be interesting to see what they do.

Cooper's statement that x-rays on the Bishop were negative and "there's nothing structurally wrong" seems strange to me. Bishop probably strained or tore a muscle or ligaments and you can't see muscle or ligament damage on an x-ray. Cooper has to know this, so...

Hard to say, I'd keep Vasilesky just cause of how much upside and potential he has, but Bishop has already proven himself as a top goaltender in the league. Tough decision for Yzerman and the Lightning, it'll be interesting to see what they do.
- jvar17

In many ways it's great to have tough decisions like this.

I think with this latest injury to Bishop... You have to think they will trade him or leave him exposed for the expansion draft.
This is not to say he isn't a fantastic goalie. His numbers are pretty good and his playoff performances (when healthy) have been stellar, especially in series clinching games!
the problem is he seems to get injured at the most inopportune times.
What thinks you Bolts fans? Do they leave him exposed or trade him prior to an expansion draft? Vasi and Gudlevskis look like they could shoulder the load.
- mlindsay

I wonder if a team like the Dallas Stars would be interested in him. Their goaltending is a flat out joke.

In many ways it's great to have tough decisions like this.
- Artyukhin76

For sure, what this team has done last year and is continuing to do this year (which in some ways is even more impressive than the cup run last year) is just a testament to the amazing job Yzerman and Vinik have in rebuilding this franchise.

I wonder if a team like the Dallas Stars would be interested in him. Their goaltending is a flat out joke.
- Artyukhin76

It makes you wonder what a team would give up to get Bishop. It would have to be something ridiculous given he is a proven number 1 goaltender. Probably a 1st, top prospect, and roster player.

I wonder if a team like the Dallas Stars would be interested in him. Their goaltending is a flat out joke.
- Artyukhin76

Which way did Mike Smith go in the deal between you two years ago? If you sent him there then you guys already screwed them once... If he came to you then you are owed
jk

It makes you wonder what a team would give up to get Bishop. It would have to be something ridiculous given he is a proven number 1 goaltender. Probably a 1st, top prospect, and roster player.
- jvar17

Problem is he has no term, UFA after this year. A team will still want him but would have to know he would resign. He would bring back a pretty substantial return. The Lightning have some big decisions to make. Bishop is awesome but he is going to command 8+ million on his next contract. Vasy can probably be signed long term for 3.5MM or so for 5-6 years.

I dont know what would be the best decision but hopefully Yzerman does.

Hard to say, I'd keep Vasilesky just cause of how much upside and potential he has, but Bishop has already proven himself as a top goaltender in the league. Tough decision for Yzerman and the Lightning, it'll be interesting to see what they do.
- jvar17

I agree that Bishop is a true #1... my concern is more his injury prone nature.
I have the same concerns with Price, tbh. Difference being that we have a guy like Fucale in the pipeline... and that's about it.
I think you let Bishop be left unprotected in a expansion draft and lean on the young up and comers... they will be less of a cap hit, and perhaps just as good. At a few more seasons to Bishops big frame and perhaps he starts to decline with additional injuries.

Anyways...
hopefully he isn't too badly hurt... I think the Bolts can take the Pens with him or Vasi playing lights out.

In many ways it's great to have tough decisions like this.
- Artyukhin76

Tough decisions have few facts so they are just betting on the future.

I agree that Bishop is a true #1... my concern is more his injury prone nature.
I have the same concerns with Price, tbh. Difference being that we have a guy like Fucale in the pipeline... and that's about it.
I think you let Bishop be left unprotected in a expansion draft and lean on the young up and comers... they will be less of a cap hit, and perhaps just as good. At a few more seasons to Bishops big frame and perhaps he starts to decline with additional injuries.

Anyways...
hopefully he isn't too badly hurt... I think the Bolts can take the Pens with him or Vasi playing lights out.
- mlindsay

Leaving Bishop unprotected in the draft would be a mistake. Better to trade him but since we don't know the extent of his injury why believe he is injury prone. Price has missed far more games than Bishop so are you proposing to leave him unprotected in a draft. Didn't think so! Fucale was a decent Jr goalie but as your season showed Montreal doesn't have an option.

There is no date for an expansion draft that I know of but it would definitely be after next season which means that Bishop would be a pending UFA unless he signs an extension this summer with TB or a team that he is traded to.

So, would a new team claim a goalie who could go UFA a couple weeks later? I wouldn't think so.

I think trading him this summer is the prudent thing to do because of having a great prospect in place to step right in to take the reigns, overall cap management with so many high end young players needing new contracts going forward (maybe giving enough room to retain Stamkos more comfortably) and the great potential return coming back for a legit star goalie.

Depending on the prognosis of the injury and how the recovery goes there may be some low ball offers until other GMs can be assured of his health moving forward but Yzerman can be patient and do things on his terms like how he handled the Drouin situation.

Good luck Lightning. This should be a fun series to watch.

Hawk's fan rooting for you Bolts. Team is a lot of fun to watch. Anyone but the Penguins.

Hawk's fan rooting for you Bolts. Team is a lot of fun to watch. Anyone but the Penguins.
- howiehandles

Leaving Bishop unprotected in the draft would be a mistake. Better to trade him but since we don't know the extent of his injury why believe he is injury prone. Price has missed far more games than Bishop so are you proposing to leave him unprotected in a draft. Didn't think so! Fucale was a decent Jr goalie but as your season showed Montreal doesn't have an option.
- Leafsandbolts

Thanks for repeating EXACTLY my point. Price and Bishop have both suffered injuries that made them miss key games in the postseason... with Bishop possibly being out again this year.
I'm saying that the bolts have options behind him and don't have to sign him to a big contract due to that as they have options... where MTL only has an unknown in Fucale... and really he hasn't done anything.
Thanks for the insight though.

Thanks for repeating EXACTLY my point. Price and Bishop have both suffered injuries that made them miss key games in the postseason... with Bishop possibly being out again this year.
I'm saying that the bolts have options behind him and don't have to sign him to a big contract due to that as they have options... where MTL only has an unknown in Fucale... and really he hasn't done anything.
Thanks for the insight though.
- mlindsay

Nope. You should reread your post. You said to leave Bishop unprotected in the draft; I said to trade him and not leave him unprotected. Nice sarcasm though.

Also I don't believe Bishop is accident prone and we will see what day to day really means.

Nope. You should reread your post. You said to leave Bishop unprotected in the draft; I said to trade him and not leave him unprotected. Nice sarcasm though.

Also I don't believe Bishop is accident prone and we will see what day to day really means.
- Leafsandbolts

Well... unless he gets an extension they'd be trading a soon to be ufa... so... not much value.