Apr 8, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) is helped off the ice after an upper-body injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop says that he’ll be ready for training camp in September.
Bishop is recovering from both wrist and elbow injuries. He dislocated his elbow against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 8, an injury that caused him to the miss the Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Montreal Canadiens.
“It’s going well,” Bishop told the Tampa Bay Times regarding his recovery. “Slowly but surely, we’re getting movement back in it. It’s getting stronger each day.”
Bishop also had surgery to his right wrist, an injury he said occurred in January, but played the rest of the season with until his elbow injury, which he now says is 90 per cent healed.
He is reportedly planning to begin skating again in August and then be in camp in September.
“Absolutely … we’ll be ready to go.”
The 27-year-old had the best goaltending season in Lightning history as he set a new franchise record of 37 wins while playing in 63 games as he led the Bolts to the playoffs for the first time since their Eastern Conference Finals run in the 2010-11 season.
Bishop had a 2.23 GAA and a .924 save percentage and is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, given to the leagues best goaltender. The winner will be announced June 24.