Senators acquire reigning AHL MVP

The Ottawa Senators have acquired forward Cory Conacher and a fourth-round draft pick in 2013 from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Ben Bishop.

The fourth-round pick Ottawa is receiving from Tampa Bay is the Philadelphia Flyers’ fourth-round selection, which was acquired by the Lightning in a trade between the two teams on Feb. 18, 2012.

Both members of the AHL Second All-Star Team in 2011-12, Conacher was also the American Hockey League’s most valuable and outstanding rookie last season, while Bishop finished first in the league in shutouts and second in save percentage and was also the MVP of the 2012 AHL All-Star Game.

Conacher, 23, has scored nine goals and added 15 assists for 24 points in 35 games with the Lightning this season. His 24 points are second among all National Hockey League rookies, while his nine goals are third-most by a rookie player. Conacher began the season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, notching 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points.

In his first professional season in 2011-12, Conacher played in 75 games with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals, collecting 39 goals and 80 points to go along with 114 penalty minutes. Following the season, he became the fourth rookie in league history to be named the winner of the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s most valuable player. He was also named to the AHL All-Rookie Team and won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award given annually to the league’s most outstanding rookie.

Conacher represented Norfolk at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic and was part of their 2012 Calder Cup winning team, recording two goals and 15 points in 18 games during the playoffs.

Bishop, 26, has posted an 8-5-0 record with a 2.45 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in 13 games with the Senators this season. Earlier this season, while with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators, he posted an 8-3-2 record with a 2.59 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in 13 games.

In 41 AHL appearances between Peoria and Binghamton last season, Bishop was 26-15-0 with 2.27 GAA, a .930 save percentage and six shutouts.