Yzerman: Decision to trade Bishop 'based on the salary cap'
The writing was on the wall when Andrei Vasilevskiy was signed to a three-year contract extension last summer.
That decision was made with the knowledge that Ben Bishop was set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2017, and that the Tampa Bay Lightning would likely be unable to re-sign the goalie who's been key to their success in recent years.
Thus, Bishop was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, with veteran Peter Budaj coming back in return as a cheaper but still very effective option in net.
Related: Lightning trade Ben Bishop to Kings
"(Bishop's) been a major part of the success we've had in the last three years and helping us go on long playoff runs, as important to our team as any other player," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said, according to the team's website.
"In the business now in hockey, you have to make some decisions based on the salary cap."
Budaj posted a record of 27-20-3 with a .917 save percentage while filling in for Jonathan Quick this season. The 34-year-old is playing on a one-year deal, but could be retained on the cheap if all goes well.
"In moving Ben, we needed a good backup - somebody to help out Vasilevskiy. (Budaj's) done a great job filling in for Quick," Yzerman said. "We want somebody experienced playing with Vasilevskiy, but we also wanted to bring in somebody that can help us win games and get us into the playoffs."
Tampa Bay was also able to add defensive prospect Erik Cernak in the deal, as well as a seventh-round pick and a conditional pick (both in the 2017 draft).
Altogether, not a bad haul for a player who would have left via free agency or the expansion draft at season's end.
Yzerman can now focus on helping the team get back to the playoffs while also having to contend with soon-to-be restricted free-agent forwards Jonathan Drouin, Tyler Johnson, and Ondrej Palat.
Bishop, meanwhile, will try to keep his stock high while splitting time with Quick, keeping a view on winning a Stanley Cup in Los Angeles and signing a lucrative contract in the offseason.