On the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ben Bishop …
Matt Larkin of The Hockey News: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He should be looking for something in the Tuukka Rask or Pekka Rinne range – seven years at a $7 million cap hit. The Lightning can’t afford that along with Andrei Vesilevskiy’s three-year, $10.5 million extension and their RFAs that that need a new contract – Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Jonathan Drouin. The Lightning should look to trade Bishop now, and here are five reasons for it.
1. Injuries – Steven Stamkos is out four to six months. Ryan Callahan is on the IR. Jonathan Drouin and Jason Garrison are banged up.
2. The Lightning are mired in an (unexpected) playoff dogfight – The Lightning were an early season Cup favorite. They are currently ranked 16th in goals per game. They’ve regressed defensively and need to address their blueline.
3. Andrei Vasilevskiy is ready for No. 1 duty – He has a 6-2-1 record with a 2.24 GAA and .930 save percentage.
4. The Lightning can still win this thing – The Lightning need help. They need another top-four defenseman and possibly another top-six forward.
5. Ben Bishop still has peak value – Bishop hasn’t had the greatest start, a .910 save percentage in 18 games, but it won’t hurt his trade value. Bishop does have a history of getting hurt at some point in the season, so GM Steve Yzerman should move now. The Dallas Stars have linked to Bishop in the past, and they may need him now more than ever. Could the Stars send Johnny Oduya to Tampa? The Lightning would need to take one of Antti Niemi or Kari Lehtonen in a deal.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs ….
News 1130 Sports: Maple Leafs prospect Vladimir Bobylev is playing in Russia, but he has been talking with the Victoria Royals (WHL) about a return. Bobylev’s agent said that they may get a release from his Russian team later this week. The Maple Leafs know what is going on and are helping out.
Darren Dreger: Karri Ramo‘s plan is to play two to four games with the Toronto Marlies.
Terry Koshan: Ramo’s agent Todd Diamond: “There are no guarantees (with the #Leafs), but there’s an opportunity there, no question about it.”
Jonas Siegel: Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello said yesterday that there is no plan right now for Ramo to join the Maple Leafs.
Pierre LeBrun: The Maple Leafs obviously have the inside track on Ramo if they want to sign him.
Mark Masters: William Nylander on the trade talk: “When you hear something it comes like a surprise. Not expecting it, for sure. But, I’m here for now (smile).”
