NHL: Stars trade Ben Bishop contract to Sabres, Stanley Cup dates, and more

Originally posted on The Daily Goal Horn
By Anthony Scultore | Last updated 6/10/22

The Dallas Stars announced that they have traded the contract of Ben Bishop to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. Also in the deal, Dallas sent a seventh round pick for future considerations.

This is a cap-based moved since Bishop announced he will not be able to play due to his knee.

With the trade, Buffalo assumes the last year of Bishop’s $4.92M contract in order to get closer to the cap floor set at $60 million.

The 6-foot-7 goaltender, a two-time All-Star, signed a six-year, $29.5 million contract with the Stars in May 2017.

Sabres trade for Ben Bishop

Bishop, 35, underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee on Oct. 21, 2020 and tried hard to come back before coming to the realization he could no longer play.

“When (the doctor) went in there, he realized the cartilage was wearing away and it was basically bone to bone,” Bishop said back in December. “I was feeling a lot of pain trying to come back. Ultimately I couldn’t get that range back and that full power.”

For his career, Bishop owns a 222-128-36 record with 33 shutouts, a 2.32 goals-against average and .921 save percentage. He played 413 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings and Stars.

“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,” Former Stars coach Rick Bowness told the Dallas Morning News. “He took us to the Finals in Tampa. When you go that far, you have a special bond.”

NHL Releases Stanley Cup Final Dates

As the Colorado Avalanche wait to host the winner of the New York Rangers versus Tampa Bay Lightning series, the NHL released two potential Stanley Cup schedules.

De[ending on who wins wins Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday, the Stanley Cup Final will start on either Wednesday or Saturday.

If the Lightning can close it out in six, Game 1 of the finals will be on Wednesday, June 15. Should the Rangers win to force a Game 7 at the Garden on Tuesday, then the Stanley Cup Final begins Saturday, June 18.

The start for all games in the final will be 8 PM ET.

Panthers sign Calle Sjalin

The Panthers have signed defenseman Calle Sjalin to his entry-level contract.

“Calle is a skilled defenseman who possesses a powerful shot and exceptional playmaking ability,” said GM Bill Zito in a statement. “He has developed into a top blueliner in the Swedish Hockey League and we are excited for him to continue to grow as an athlete in our system.”

Sjalin, 22, was drafted by the New York Rangers in the fifth round of the 2017 Draft.