The Dallas Stars may not have to expose Anton Khudobin to the Seattle Kraken after all. Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News reports that Ben Bishop has agreed to waive his no-movement clause for the expansion draft, meaning the Stars will not be forced to protect him. Bishop’s agent, Allain Roy, explained why his client made the decision:
I thought that was a good move for him and the team. In the big picture, the goal is to win the Stanley Cup, so I think he felt that was the right move for the team to be the best team possible next year. Makes sense.
The 34-year-old Bishop missed the entire 2020-21 season due to injury, but remains an enticing option for the Stars if he can get back to full health. Since arriving in the NHL, the 6’7″ netminder has been one of the league’s best, posting a .921 save percentage over 413 appearances. That number has Bishop sitting fifth in NHL history, with Tuukka Rask the only active netminder ahead of him (Dominik Hasek, Johnny Bower, and Ken Dryden are the other three). A three-time Vezina Trophy finalist, he was outstanding in his first three years in Dallas, posting a .923 in 143 games.
Of course, that success would also make him a very attractive choice for Seattle, if only they knew he would be healthy enough to play. That uncertainty and the $4.92MM cap hit likely keeps him off the Kraken’s radar, but waiving the no-movement still helps out the club. Jake Oettinger, the team’s presumed “goaltender of the future” is still exempt from selection, meaning the team can protect Khudobin and keep their depth intact.
Bravo, Big Ben. Such terrific leading by example. The Lightning were fortunate to have him earlier in his career and as a mentor for Vasy. Imagine being a team player in order to win. That is how it is done—see two consecutive cups, Bolts!
I’d expose both. Whoever you end up with mentors the kid.
there’s your Fleury, Seattle
Go back to Tampa as a backup!!
Yeah I was about to say Seattle bound for Bishop! They’d be silly to pass him up. Well as long as injury isn’t career ending. Snag Bishop and Adin Hill as your 1&2. That’s a real good net presence for them. Or heck Ullmark instead of Hill. Being a Sabres fan, if the Sabres don’t resign him Seattle NEEDS to be all over this. Bishop mentoring Ullmark would be a huge get for them. Ullmark is really good REGARDLESS what you see in stat line from playing behind the porous defensive system we’ve had in Buffalo.
Not sure if Ullmark is injury prone or not. About 20 games played this past season & finished the season injured.
Seattle DOES have to get to the cap floor, after all. And it’s not as if Dallas is exposing anyone else all that decent. If Bishop isn’t healthy, LTIR it is. If he is and is at all close to his old borderline Hall of Fame form, that’s a huge piece to flip next spring for some serious assets. And it sure doesn’t suck to have that kind of leadership in the locker room. Seattle-bound indeed.
Xmas for Ronnie. He’ll either be a difference maker or can be stashed on IR. Gotta take the chance on him, unless Dallas has someone else great available that I’ve forgotten.
It’s either Francis picks Bishop or (say) Oleksiak. Middle pairing defensemen are a dime a dozen. Picking Bishop has the chance to pay off big.
I’m still mad the Blues let him go