Free ride over for Lehner as Senators acquire goalie Bishop
Newly acquired minor-league goalie Ben Bishop, all 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds of him, will sign a new one-year, one-way contract for $650,000 when he arrives in Ottawa in time for practice on Monday.
Newly acquired minor-league goalie Ben Bishop, all 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds of him, will sign a new one-year, one-way contract for $650,000 when he arrives in Ottawa in time for practice on Monday.
That means next season he’ll have to clear waivers to be sent to Binghamton (he’s on a two-way contract this year). It also means the free ride is over for Robin Lehner. His path to the NHL as Craig Anderson’s backup is not unencumbered.
The Senators acquired Bishop from the St. Louis Blues on Sunday in exchange for a second round pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft.
“Now we have competition,” said general manager Bryan Murray.
“Performance will dictate who that person will be.”
Murray said the decision to acquire Bishop should not be seen as an indication that Anderson’s recovery from a cut to the baby finger on his right hand will be longer than expected.
Murray said he and director of player personnel Pierre Dorion have been talking about adding a depth goaltender.
The need of how thin the Senators are in goal was driven home to Murray during Friday’s practice when a Alex Auld had his hand stepped on.
“I looked at that and said ‘wow,’” said Murray.
“If we have another injury, we are really out of luck. So that motivated me probably a little bit more.”
Whether Bishop plays a few games in Binghamton first, or is given a game here first, is still under discussion. But Murray was clear that there would only be two goalies in Ottawa.
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Trade links:
— Full audio from Ben Bishop Saturday
Hopefully this will show Lehner that just because we have the need between the pipes it won’t simply be handed over to him. He is going to have to work for it. He needs to mature physically, and A LOT between the ears!
Carson…what in the world are you gripeing about?
Robin Lehner is a good young goalie (as is Anderson).
One loss nor one win does a goalie make.
I would suggest 3 goalies for the Sens, not because of competition, but to cover unforeseen fluke injuries, leading up to the playoffs.