Nov 25, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) during the first period against the New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Update:
The terms of the deal have been released and the value of the deal is $11.9 million over the two years. Bishop will make $2.3 million this season.
The 2-year. $11.9 million contract extension signed by Ben Bishop pays him $5.95 million in 2015-16 and 2016-17 #tblightning
— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) August 2, 2014
Original:
The Tampa Bay Lightning have locked up their franchise goalie as Ben Bishop has signed a two-year extension.
Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed yet but his new deal will keep him in Tampa through the 2016-17 season.
Bishop set a franchise record with 37 wins this past season as he led the Lightning to the playoffs for the first time in three years.
However, an injury late in the regular season shelved him for the Bolts first round playoff series, in which they were swept.
Last season Bishop was 37-14-7 with a 2.23 GAA and a .924 save percentage.
He was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, given to the NHL’s best goaltender.
Bishop was acquired in April 2013 in a trade with the Ottawa Senators in which the Lightning sent Cory Conacher to Canada’s capital.
In 72 games with the Bolts, he’s 40-18-8.
The 27-year-old was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2014-15 season but he will now be in-between the pipes for the next three seasons.
The 6-foot-7 goaltender established himself as one of the league’s best goaltenders last season and was a crucial part of the Lightning’s successful season.
Bishop will be backed-up by Evgeni Nabokov this upcoming season while Andrei Vasilevskiy and Kristers Gudlevskis will be in the AHL with Syracuse.
Resigning Bishop continues general manager Steve Yzerman’s theme of locking up the team’s young core as the Lightning continue to stabilize their roster in hopes of adding a second Stanley Cup title.