There’s no denying Ben Bishop had a tremendous 2013-14 campaign, posting career highs in nearly every statistical category en route to his first Vezina nomination. He was subsequently rewarded with a two-year, $11.9 million contract extension -- which will make him the NHL’s ninth highest-paid goalie (cap hit) when it kicks in -- and as such, now faces one big question moving forward:
Can he do it again?
For the first time in his professional career, Bishop’s carrying huge expectations. Sure, scouts were always tantalized by his talent and size (at 6-foot-7, he’s the NHL’s tallest goalie), but his body of work prior to last season was minimal, and it wasn’t even clear he could be a full-time starter.
All that all changed in a hurry, though.
Bishop was arguably the Lightning’s MVP last year, going 37-14-7 with a .924 save percentage, 2.23 GAA and five shutouts. His importance to the club was magnified in the opening-round playoff loss to Montreal, when a dislocated elbow kept him out of action and forced both Anders Lindback and Kristers Gudlevskis in action. Neither could replicate Bishop’s success, and the results suggested as much -- the Lightning were swept, allowing 16 goals in four games.
If there wasn’t enough pressure there, the stakes appear to be pretty high in Tampa right now. GM Steve Yzerman didn’t rest on his laurels following last season and made big moves this summer, adding a number of veteran presences in the hope of improving on last year’s 46-win campaign.
If the Bolts are going to be better than they were in ’13-14 and move into the conversation of Eastern Conference elites, they’ll need at least comparable goaltending from Bishop. That means he can’t go the way of Jim Carey, the former Washington goalie that won the Vezina in ’96 but never found similar success again. It’s something Bishop alluded to after signing his extension.
“I had one really good year this year -- I think I’ve still got to prove myself,” Bishop said, per the Tampa Bay Times. “I want to be consistent year in and year out. I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder.
“I want to be even better this year.”