Stars' Bishop ends playing career due to knee injury
Ben Bishop is hanging up his pads after an 11-year NHL career due to a knee injury, Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said Saturday, according to The Dallas Morning News' Matthew DeFranks.
The Stars netminder hasn't played a regular-season NHL game since March 10, 2020. Bishop made three appearances for Dallas during the 2020 bubble playoffs in August.
The 35-year-old underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in October 2020 and has spent the last 14 months rehabbing the injury. The organization assigned Bishop to the AHL's Texas Stars on a rehab assignment this past week, and he allowed eight goals on 34 shots in his lone appearance.
"It’s no secret, he has a degenerative knee injury, and he went down there, he wanted to be a big part of this," Nill said. "He wanted to do everything he could to get back. In the end, by going through the process, going down there, and playing, he found out that it’s the end of his career.
"He’s the one that said, 'No, that’s it,'" Nill added. "In the end, he’s the one that had to make that decision."
Bishop was a three-time Vezina Trophy finalist (2014, 2016, 2019) and finishes his career with 222 wins, 33 shutouts, a 2.32 goals against average, and a .921 save percentage - the latter of which currently ranks fifth on the all-time list behind Dominik Hasek, Ken Dryden, Tuukka Rask, and Jack Campbell.
The 6-foot-7 Bishop proved to be a big-game goaltender as well, posting a 2.27 goals against average and a .924 save percentage in 52 career playoff games. The netminder also guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final in 2015.
Stars head coach Rick Bowness was a Lightning associate coach for five campaigns from 2013-2018.
"It hurts," Bowness said. "I feel terrible for him because he’s such a great person, and as I’ve always said when he’s on, he’s a top-three goalie in the league. He took us to the Finals in Tampa. When you go that far, you have a special bond.
"I’ve always felt very close with Bish. I’m devastated for him and his family, I know he wants to play. It’s just a very, very unfortunate thing that’s happened."
In addition to his time in Dallas and Tampa, Bishop also played for the Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, and St. Louis Blues.
Bishop is in the fifth season of a six-year, $29.5-million contract. He was recalled from his conditioning loan on Saturday and placed on long-term injured reserve, where he will remain through the duration of his deal.
While Bishop would've been a welcome addition had his comeback been successful, the Stars already have a crowded puck-stopper room. Offseason acquisition Braden Holtby and youngster Jake Oettinger have been sensational this campaign. Meanwhile, veteran Anton Khudobin has struggled and is reportedly on the trade block.