Blues goaltending prospect Ben Bishop had the same reaction as many fans did Wednesday when the club signed Brian Elliott to a two-year, $3.6 million contract extension.
Bishop, who is in his fourth full season in the American Hockey League and NHL-ready according to many league observers, might be in his final days with his hometown organization. The Blues now have Elliott and Jaroslav Halak locked up for the next two seasons.
"It was definitely a little tough to see that news, but (Elliott) deserves it," Bishop said Saturday. "He's having a great year, he's putting up great numbers. It's a well-deserving contract, so you can't get mad at the Blues for doing anything like that. They want to compete and win, and they've got two guys up there right now that are probably the two best in the league, so you can't complain about that at all.
"My situation, I'm playing well (in Peoria), so I've just got to keep it up and focus on my team down here. There's obviously some writing on the wall, but at the same time, you never know what can happen."
Bishop, 25, the Blues' third-round draft pick in 2005, is 17-11 with a 2.30 goals-against average, a .928 save-percentage and a league-high six shutouts this season. He recently was picked for the AHL All-Star Game.
But despite those credentials, the Blues might be in the market of trading Bishop before losing him to free agency. According to the NHL's collective-bargaining agreement, he will become an unrestricted free agent this summer unless he plays 30-plus minutes in 17 NHL games this season. If he somehow reaches that, he remains a restricted free agent.
With the organization's depth at the position, which includes 2008 second-round draft pick Jake Allen, the team might elect to deal Bishop before the NHL trading deadline arrives on Feb. 27.
"If I end up getting traded, I end up getting traded," Bishop said. "I just wanted to come down (to Peoria) and show all 30 teams in the NHL that I was ready to play. I feel like I'm playing the best I've ever played. You always say you're ready for the NHL, but I think the years down in Peoria really helped me out. So hopefully I can take that to the next level and produce at the NHL level."
Even if that opportunity doesn't happen in St. Louis.
"My heart's always been with the St. Louis Blues ever since I was a little kid," Bishop said. "It's always been an honor to get a chance to play with them. Obviously I would like to do that in the future, but right now, I just want to show that I can play in the NHL, no matter where that is. If that's going to be with another organization, it's going to be with another organization. Right now, I'm just ready to get up there."
BOYES RETURNS
Former Blue Brad Boyes played in St. Louis for the first time since being dealt to Buffalo last February for a second-round draft pick, which the club used on defenseman Joel Edmundson. Boyes was scoreless Saturday as the Blues won 4-2 and has three goals in 35 games this season and only one his last 26.
"It's been tough and frustrating for me," Boyes said. "I've gone through stretches, but this is obviously something that's a little different."
BLUENOTES
Forward Alex Steen (concussion) missed his 11th consecutive game. ... Coach Ken Hitchcock said Halak and Elliott will split the starts Monday against Detroit and Tuesday against Pittsburgh. ... The Blues now are 9-0-1 against the Eastern Conference this season.
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