Stars Acquire Bishop From Kings
via Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has acquired goaltender Ben Bishop from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Montreal’s fourth-round selection in the 2017 NHL Draft. The Stars will have exclusive negotiating rights with Bishop until July 1, when he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.
Bishop, 30, spent time with Los Angeles and Tampa Bay during the 2016-17 regular season, posting an 18-15-5 record with a .910 save percentage and 2.54 goal against average in 39 games played. During the 2015-16 regular season, his 2.06 goals against average with Tampa Bay led the League for goaltenders that qualified in the category. He also finished second in voting for the Vezina Trophy which is awarded to the goaltender that is adjudged to be the best at his position. A participant in the 2016 NHL All-Star Game, he was named to the 2015-16 NHL Second All-Star Team.
Having played in parts of eight seasons for Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Ottawa and St. Louis, he has compiled a 148-80-25 record in 270 career games played. In that time, he has compiled a .919 save percentage, a 2.32 goals against average and 19 shutouts. Twice, he has finished in the top three in Vezina Trophy voting, finishing second in 2015-16 and third in 2013-14.
He has appeared in 36 Stanley Cup Playoff games in his career, including a Stanley Cup Final run in 2014-15, posting a 21-13 record with a 2.09 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. His five postseason shutouts since 2014-15 are the most in the NHL.
“Ben has proven that he is one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL,” said Nill. “This offers us the opportunity to negotiate with him before the free agency period begins.”
Bishop played in Frisco, Texas as an 18-year-old in 2004-05 with the Texas Tornado, who played in the North American Hockey League at that time. He has also represented the United States at the World Championship in 2010 and 2013.
The 6-foot-7, 216-pound native of Denver, Colo. was originally selected by St. Louis in the third round (85th overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft.
