Senators trade Ben Bishop to Lightning for Cory Conacher

The Ottawa Senators have finally traded Ben Bishop, who is sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

By Brandon Worley@brandonworley Apr 3, 2013, 2:19pm EDT

The Tampa Bay Lightning have traded for Ottawa Senators goaltender Ben Bishop, according to a report by TSN's Bob McKenzie. The Senators receive Cory Conacher and a fourth-round pick in exchange for the netminder.

More: All the NHL trade rumors Every deadline day deal

Bishop was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round in 2005, making his NHL debut with the Blues in 2008. The 26-year old netminder was traded to the Senators in February of 2012 after Craig Anderson was injured, playing in ten games and proving to be a solid option for for a team looking for an NHL quality goaltender.

Bishop has done an incredible job supporting Anderson this season, putting up a .922 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average along with a 8-5-0 record.

Bishop has been the subject of trade speculation for a few weeks now, considering his pending restricted free agent status. The Lightning have struggled this season after a fast start, firing coach Guy Boucher as the team floundered down the stretch. Tampa Bay has been searching for a long-term solution at goalie and Bishop will get the chance to battle Anders Lindback for the starting role moving forward.

The price for Bishop, a pending UFA goaltender with just 36 games at the NHL level, certainly seems steep. If Bishop is able to seize the top goalie position for the Lightning the pain of losing Conacher will be eased just a bit.