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Los Angeles Kings get G Ben Bishop from Tampa Bay Lightning

By The Sports Xchange
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop scans the crowds from the bench during the first period against the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on December 1, 2016. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
1 of 3 | Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop scans the crowds from the bench during the first period against the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on December 1, 2016. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Los Angeles Kings addressed their goaltending situation on Sunday by acquiring Ben Bishop from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Bishop, a Vezina finalist last season and a pending unrestricted free agent, will back up Jonathan Quick, who returned Saturday from a 59-game absence to lead the Kings to win over Anaheim thanks to a 32-save performance.

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Quick was also a Vezina finalist last season.

Los Angeles also received a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NHL draft for goaltender Peter Budaj and defense prospect Erik Cernak. To complete the deal, the Lightning picked up both a seventh-round and a conditional pick in the 2017 draft.

Tampa Bay will retain 20 percent of the prorated remainder of Bishop's $5.95 million salary, according to the Kings' official team site.

Bishop recorded a 16-12-3 mark with one shutout, a 2.55 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage this season. The 30-year-old pending unrestricted free agent has posted a 146-77-23 career mark with 19 shutouts, a 2.32 GAA and .919 save percentage in 263 contests with the St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators and Lightning.

"Our plan was that at some point we were going to turn over the starting goaltending duties to (22-year-old Andrei Vasilevskiy)," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman told the Tampa Times on Sunday night. "Ultimately the timing of the trade really is based on that we're able to acquire a goaltender (in Budaj) that can go in play games for us and help us win games this year. And Andrei will play a bigger load of games than he has.

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Budaj fared well this season in place of injured Jonathan Quick, highlighted by a league high-tying seven shutouts. The 34-year-old owns a 27-20-3 mark with a 2.12 GAA and .917 save percentage this season and a 152-127-39 career record with 18 shutouts with the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and Kings.

Cernak, a second-round pick by L.A. in 2015, has three goals, 14 assists and a plus-27 rating to go along with 47 penalty minutes in 40 games with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League. The 19-year-old has scored seven goals and set up 25 others in 82 career contests with the Otters. At 6-foot-3, 221 pounds, the right-shot defenseman is a solid add to the Lightning prospect pool.

"He's big, strong, a good skater, a good strong defender," Yzerman told the Times. "With our depth chart and prospect pool, he fits in. We're very optimistic that with time he can develop into an NHL player."

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