Kings trade away Budaj to Tampa Bay in exchange for goalie Ben Bishop
Listen to this articleIn a move that might surprise many Los Angeles hockey fans, the Los Angeles Kings finalized a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning to send goalie Peter Budaj to Tampa Bay with defenseman Erik Cernak in exchange for goalie Ben Bishop and a fifth round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. The Kings also gave up picks in the NHL draft.
While Jonathan Quick was recuperating from a groin injury Budaj held the net, playing in 53 games, posting a 27-20-3 record with a 2.12 goals-against average (third in the NHL), a .917 save percentage and seven shutouts (tied for the league-lead).
Cernak has only appeared with the Erie Otters playing in 40 games this season recording 17 points (3-14=17), a plus-27 rating and 47 penalty minutes.
the 30-year old Bishop played 32 games with the Lightning this year, posting a 6-12-3 record, a 2.55 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage with one shutout. A native of Denver, CO, Bishop has played with the Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues in his eight year career. He has 263 regular season games on his skates, with a record of 146-77-23, a 2.32 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage with 19 shutouts.
Bishop was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NHL Draft by the Blues. He has appeared in 36 playoff games and has a 21-13 record in the post-season, with a 2.09 goals-against average, a.927 save percentage and five shutouts.
He helped lead the Lightning to an Eastern Conference Championship in 2015, meeting the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final, which Chicago won in six games.
Photos by Claudia Gestro
We are not the typical news website – nor do we wish to be. We will be offering more than news and blogs, but an opportunity for fiction writers, poets, comedians and musicians to showcase their talent and skills. Much like when the Beatles formed Apple Corps Ltd, they opened the door to all kinds of inspiring talent that never really got a shot. From that came the likes of James Taylor and others. We hope by providing a similar approach we can shine the light on some tremendous undiscovered talent and at the same time offer some familiar voices who live in Los Angeles and beyond.