I just came into this forum to start the exact same thread. I was blown away when I saw Bishop at 15. This is a guy who lost his starting job to a 19 year while playing for Team USA at the World Championships. Stevie Y has also already gone on record stating that he and Lindback will be platooning starts to start the season until a clear #1 emerges. So a 1A goalie is #15? Also, Bishop is now on his 3rd team in as many years. Not a good sign.
IMO Lindback was thrown under the bus in TB last season. They had/have an atrocious D and I think a lot of young goalies would have faltered in a similar situation, regardless of their talent level. Had Lindback not gotten injured I doubt Bishop would have been brought in. Lindback was on fire before he got injured. Check out his numbers from his last 5 games before the injury:
March 18 - Win, GAA = 2.01, SV% = .933 (30 Saves)
March 14 - L, GAA - 1.01, SV% - .964 (28 Saves)
March 12 - W, GAA = 2.00, SV% = .949 (39 Saves)
March 7 - L, GAA = 2.06, GAA = .929 (28 Saves)
March 5 - W, GAA - 2.00, SV% = .926 (27 Saves)
I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid that Bishop is somehow the saviour in TB and guaranteed #1 and frankly I don’t understand why so many people do. He has been good in short stints but has yet to put a full season of solid numbers together, yet everyone assumes he will be able to do so in TB. My money is on Lindback to run away with the starting job. He was under the tutelage of Mitch Korn, arguably the best goalie coach in the NHL, while in Nashville. Plus he had Pekka Rinne as his mentor for 2 years. Huge advantage. But that’s just me.