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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Ben Bishop Prepares For A Key Career Season

“Healthy and confident” at 32, he’s ready to push past the goalie aging plateau. Plus, Blake Wheeler’s new deal, Miro Heiskanen’s new interview, and more.

By Kathleen Tibbetts

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NHL: St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Bishop isn’t ready to be the old guy in net. He’s spent the summer getting healthy, tweaking his training, and preparing for a season in which he’ll be 32 years old and needing to come out on the better side of a statistical battle.

Don’t get him wrong – he says he’s looking forward to mentoring up-and-comers like Colton Point, who’s been joining him in practice at StarCenter Frisco. But he has a different world to beat this season, as Sean Shapiro points out in a new article at The Athletic DFW:

During the 2017-18 season, the average NHL save percentage was .912. Eleven goalies 32 or older had a better statistical showing, but only five of them ([Mike] Smith, Marc-Andre Fleury, [Pekka] Rinne, Henrik Lundqvist, and Jonathan Quick) played 40 games or more.

The remainder of the above-average older goalies were back-ups ([Ryan] Miller, Carter Hutton, Curtis McElhinney) or dealt with injuries (Corey Crawford and Roberto Luongo).

...

For the Stars to have success, Bishop has to be in that first tier this season. And frankly, he probably has to remain in that tier for at least three or four seasons with five years remaining on a six-year deal worth $4,916,666 per season.

Bishop also rejects the “injury-prone” label, pointing out that his training routine had kept him healthy all last season until the freak accident in which Dan Hamhuis fell on his knee:

“Probably going to kind of do the same thing I did last year as far as keep my body in the shape I had it at,” Bishop said. “It felt good the entire season, and then something like that happens. As you get older you know what works and what doesn’t work and you kind of take things season to season and I think it’s just about getting back.”

The rest of the story is behind the paywall, but you may be able to take advantage of a subscription discount sale now in progress. [The Athletic DFW]

Stars Stuff

Mike Heika checks in with Marc Methot in his latest session of Summer School.

You’ve already read Taylor’s write-up, but here’s a quick view of the Stars’ 2018 Traverse City Prospect Tournament roster, courtesy of Mark Stepneski.

And here’s a little something to look forward to as you make your Stars news round this morning:

Sean also posted this reminder about Traverse City rules (in other words, don’t read anything into the fact that Denis Gurianov isn’t on the list):

Around the League(s)

A star forward and pending Central Division UFA has just signed a big extension. Captain Blake Wheeler will stay with the Winnipeg Jets for five years and $41.25 million, with some no-move protection built in.

NBC’s Adam Gretz offered this perspective:

Meanwhile, Matt Duchene says he would love to stay with the Ottawa Senators, which makes one of him, at least.

NHL.com’s Dan Rosen discusses Phil Kessel’s usage, the Central Division’s brutal algebra, how a Seattle franchise will affect realignment and more in his latest mailbag. [NHL]

Alex Chiasson is a Stanley Cup winner, y’all.

Toaster’s teammate, Washington Capitals center Lars Eller, made history during his own day with the Cup.

The Edmonton Oilers are bringing back a blast from the past.

Finally

The preseason and the playoffs are great times for goalie-mask watching. Check out the new cage for Arizona Coyotes netminder Antti Raanta – starring his alter ego.