Music: {allcanada} Report: Blues ship Bishop to Ottawa for pick

Sunday, February 26, 2012

{allcanada} Report: Blues ship Bishop to Ottawa for pick

With Craig Anderson sidelined due to a fluke hand injury, the Ottawa Senators have reportedly made a trade with the St. Louis Blues to acquire goalie Ben Bishop for a draft pick, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

Bishop, a third-round pick in 2005, is third on the Blues' depth chart behind Jaroslav Halak and All-Star Brian Elliott. He lost the backup job to Elliott in October and hasn't had any opportunity to claim it since due to Elliott's dynamite play all season.

Bishop is scheduled to be a restricted free agent following the season if he plays at least 30 minutes in 17 games. Otherwise Bishop will be unrestricted. He has spent the entire season with the Peoria Rivermen in the American Hockey League and has posted a 24-14-4 record with a 2.26 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in 38 appearances.

Anderson is out indefinitely after suffering a right hand injury. Alex Auld stopped 33 of 37 shots in a 5-3 loss to Boston on Saturday, the Senators first game since Anderson's injury. Robin Lehner was recalled from Binghamton of the American Hockey League to serve as Auld's backup while the Senators search for help in net.

Bishop, who is 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, played six games with the Blues in 2008-09 and seven last season. He is 4-5-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .896 save percentage in his brief NHL career.