Yzerman coy on keeping both Bishop and Vasilevskiy: 'Maybe, maybe not'

The Tampa Bay Lightning have two excellent goalies - Ben Bishop and Andrei Vasilevskiy - accounting for over $7.4 million, heading into an expansion draft in which only one can be protected. But that doesn't mean Vasilevskiy or Bishop, an unrestricted free agent in July 2017, will be traded.

General manager Steve Yzerman was asked Thursday if he'll be forced to trade one of his 'tenders before the 2017 deadline, and answered in Yzerman-like fashion.

"Maybe, maybe not," he said, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith.

With Stanley Cup aspirations, Yzerman said keeping both goalies is an option. And it may make the most sense.

Bishop was stellar last season, with a .926 save percentage in 60 starts. When he went down to injury in the playoffs, Vasilevskiy stepped in and played superbly. He finished the postseason with a .925 save percentage in six starts and eight total contests, as the Lightning fell in seven games to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the eventual Stanley Cup champions.

Vasilevskiy signed a three-year, $10.5-million extension on July 1, and is expected be Tampa Bay's goalie of the future. Bishop, meanwhile, acknowledged recently that a summer trade to the Calgary Flames was "close," and that a contract extension was discussed before Calgary went a different route and acquired Brian Elliott.

Last season, Steven Stamkos' expiring contract was the topic of mass discussion in the Lightning dressing room and throughout the NHL. This season, it appears Bishop's situation will be a major storyline.

Yzerman, of course, has proven deft at keeping the Lightning together, and while a Bishop extension - he'll be 30 on Nov. 21 - is unlikely, it's certainly possible the GM risks losing his goalie for nothing in order to win a Cup.

The former Detroit Red Wings legend and Hall of Famer knows best that banners fly forever.