In the movie The Dark Knight, Gotham City prosecutor Harvey Dent says "The night is darkest just before the dawn."

While it might not be the darkest of times for the Lightning, Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman knew he needed to bring the Lightning to back to the light. Whether that meant this season or next is the question.

But one thing is certain: Andrei Vasilevksiy is now the number one goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning following Sunday's trade of Ben Bishop to the Los Angeles Kings.

"Whether I made this trade back during the summer, the season, or now, I was going to make this trade," said Yzerman.

"This move hardly comes a surprise," said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. "Ever since we gave Vasy his contract extension last summer this was kind of the feeling."

In all honesty the countdown to Vasy's reign began when Bishop got hurt in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final last season against the Pittsburgh Penguins. With solid play, the youngster, now only 22 years old, showed this franchise what he is capable of doing when given the starting gig.

"I believe (Andrei) is going to be a very good starting goaltender in this league," said Yzerman. "If you look at some of the other franchise goaltenders in the NHL they have ups and downs to start, so he will have his moments but I expect a solid future from him."

The Lightning received two draft picks, a young defensive prospect (Eric Carnek) and veteran goaltender Peter Budaj. The sting in all of this, though, is losing a player and teammate like Bishop.

"It's not easy but we get that this is a business," said Lightning defenseman Anton Strolman. "We have to move on and focus on what we need to do to finish strong this season."

"I texted Ben and just wanted to say I was going to miss him," said Lightning forward Alex Killorn. "He was a great teammate. It's a tough day."

Cooper may have say it best when speaking of Bishop on Monday: "He is one of the most important players that this franchise has ever had."

And now he is gone to Los Angeles.

The future for Vasy is now.