After an 11-season NHL career that saw 222 wins, 33 shutouts, and a career .921 save percentage, Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop’s playing days appear to be over. The Stars’ general manager Jim Nill made the announcement on Saturday in an interview with the Dallas Morning News. Bishop was sent down to the Stars’ AHL affiliate on Thursday on a conditioning stint. He allowed eight goals on 34 shots in his single appearance.
After more than a year trying to return from knee surgery, Stars goaltender Ben Bishop’s career is over, general manager Jim Nill said Saturday morning. https://t.co/uGH2BCmVuh
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) December 11, 2021
Ben Bishop’s Playing Days Are Over
“He wanted to do everything he could to get back,” Said Nill on his team’s former starting goaltender, “In the end, by going through the process, going down there and playing, he found out that it’s the end of his career.” Bishop underwent surgery for a torn meniscus after the pandemic-altered 2019-20 season in which the Stars went to the Stanley Cup Final on the back of his goalie partner Anton Khudobin’s heroics. Bishop then missed the entirety of the shortened 2020-21 season, in which Dallas missed the playoffs. The 8-4 loss Bishop suffered during his conditioning stint was certainly a wake-up call for the 35-year-old. It forced him to seriously take his quality of life into consideration.
Over the course of his career which spanned five NHL teams, Bishop was consistently dominant. He has always been one of the most recognizable goaltenders in the league due to his towering frame. He stands 6 feet 7 inches tall, which earned him the nickname “Big Ben”.
Bishop’s memorable career was not without recognition. He was a Vezina Trophy finalist three times and won a bronze medal at the World Championships with the USA in 2013.
What This Means for the Stars
Bishop is currently in the fifth year of a six-year, $29.5 million contract that carries a cap hit of $4,916,667 per season. Shortly after the Stars announced he was recalled from his conditioning stint, Bishop was placed back on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). He’ll likely stay there for the foreseeable future. He will meet with the media in Dallas on Tuesday in what is believed to be a retirement press conference.
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