Confirmed Trade: [DAL/LAK] Ben Bishop UFA rights for 2017 4th rounder (MTL's pick)

[pheasant]

They should buy-out Niemi and Lehtonen. That tandem last season had a cap hit of 10.4 Million. Buying out both goalies costs 1.5 and ~2.566 Million, for a combined hit of just over 4 (for 2 years)

If they sign Bishop for 6 Million or less, and any backup for a million or less, that is 11 million tops! Barely more than they paid last season for a massive, massive improvement. And it might even be cheaper if Bishop takes less, and they dumpster-dive for the backup.

Berube, Kinkaid, Berra, Nilsson, Kuemper, Gustavsson, and a handfull of other backups are available. I'm sure one of them will take the job for under a million.

 

[He Is Knocking]

I like this deal for the Stars and Bishop. I was hoping somehow the Flyers could pull this off. The bigger question is what is Dallas going to do with it's current tandem who both should be backups and paid as such.

 

[ElGuapo]

Not unless they get some defencemen. Yeah their goaltending stunk last year, but they also never replaced the D they lost last offseason.

They were replaced by guys with higher upside but were never going to be ready enough last year. Hopefully close to ready this year + adding a proven top four D + Hitchcock. That would do the trick.

 

[BlueBaron]

Seems like thee right move for Dallas, I guess Calgary chases Fleury.

 

[The Macho King]

Does this trigger anything with the conditional pick in the Kings/Bolts deal?

 

[93Crazed101]

Just an FYI, that's not legal. The lowest paid year of a contract cannot be less than 50% of the highest paid year. And that aside, I don't think he'll sign a 4 year contract.

Thanks for the head up. Ideally then I'd like 7 the first two and 4 the next two.

 

[The Macho King]

BTW - Bish is great. When he's on he is very frustrating to watch. Calm in net, swallows pucks, and he covers more of the net on his knees than most goalies on their feet. Weakness is reaction saves, but he's really good positionally and he tracks the puck well.

And his puck movement will decrease your SA/G probably by 2 or 3 on its own.

Source for that - Him and Vasi's SA/60:
Vasi 30.36 over the past two seasons
Bish 28.06 over the past two seasons

That's over 120 fewer shots against over the course of a season (assuming 60 games played). Assuming a .925 EV save percentage, he's saving you at least 10 goals you're never going to see.

 

[Dallasman]

They should buy-out Niemi and Lehtonen. That tandem last season had a cap hit of 10.4 Million. Buying out both goalies costs 1.5 and ~2.566 Million, for a combined hit of just over 4 (for 2 years)

If they sign Bishop for 6 Million or less, and any backup for a million or less, that is 11 million tops! Barely more than they paid last season for a massive, massive improvement. And it might even be cheaper if Bishop takes less, and they dumpster-dive for the backup.

Berube, Kinkaid, Berra, Nilsson, Kuemper, Gustavsson, and a handfull of other backups are available. I'm sure one of them will take the job for under a million.

Is there a rule for how many buyouts a team can use in an offseason?

 

[MinJaBen]

His GSAA this past year was not very good, however.

 

[The Macho King]

It's almost like it was a bad year which he played injured, as well as moved to a new team that couldn't have a more different system than Tampa. Not saying there aren't concerns moving forward, but playing with an injury + new team (which wasn't playing well on its own) is going to have an impact.

 

[oconnor9sean]

It's almost like it was a bad year which he played injured, as well as moved to a new team that couldn't have a more different system than Tampa. Not saying there aren't concerns moving forward, but playing with an injury + new team (which wasn't playing well on its own) is going to have an impact.

Not to mention the massive amount of distractions before the season where he didn't know if he would be playing the year in Tampa or not.

Is there a rule for how many buyouts a team can use in an offseason?

I don't believe there is a rule on normal buyouts. There was a rule on compliance buyouts post 2nd lockout.

 

[PetterssonSimp]

Dallas Stars need one Top4 defenceman and they are a playoff team once they sign Bishop. Two Top4 or a top pairing and top 4 defenceman this Stars team challenged for Final4 next year.
They needed a new voice behind the bench. Check that off.
Sign the guy for goalie they just grabbed. Soon.
Find at least 1 defenceman. July 1st.

Stars looking a lot better already

 

[tony d]

Yeah, Bishop dramatically will improve Dallas' goalie situation. They just need to rid themselves of one of Niemi or Lehtonen and get themselves a good top 4 defenseman.

 

[FirstRowUpperDeck]

His GSAA this past year was not very good, however.

Interesting, but perhaps a selected stat t make a point? I think there is little doubt BB is better than KL, who I wouldn't mind as a backup. He plays pretty well regular season and 5v5. Has never had much playoff experience, and seems to crumble in big games. So, keep Kari, use him 25 games to keep BB fresh, and sit him in the PO, should we make them.

Bishop has some warts that make him no guarantee for success - age, injuries, bad year last year possible trend vs. one off bad season, etc. But, MAF, Darling, Raanta, etc. all have different questions marks, too.

And, PR wise, I think Nill had to make a splash for the biggest name out there, for one, because of past tries at lower cost backup goalies, and second, because the STH base needs something to really get excited about. Promoting a back up to starter doesn't really do that for the average fan.

 

[Teemu]

They should buy-out Niemi and Lehtonen. That tandem last season had a cap hit of 10.4 Million. Buying out both goalies costs 1.5 and ~2.566 Million, for a combined hit of just over 4 (for 2 years)

If they sign Bishop for 6 Million or less, and any backup for a million or less, that is 11 million tops! Barely more than they paid last season for a massive, massive improvement. And it might even be cheaper if Bishop takes less, and they dumpster-dive for the backup.

Berube, Kinkaid, Berra, Nilsson, Kuemper, Gustavsson, and a handfull of other backups are available. I'm sure one of them will take the job for under a million.

Only on HF could the solution to the problem "We're spending way too much on goaltending" be "So let's spend more"

 

[Melrose Munch]

stars still have to get rid of niemi and lethonen

 

[BreadManPanarin]

stars still have to get rid of niemi and lethonen

How many people are going to make this exact same observation, as if it is an original thought?

 

[93Crazed101]

Buy out Niemi. Keep Lehtonen. Draft a goalie in the first two rounds. Not that hard.

 

[Eb]

Everything is bigger in Texas!

Even their goalies!

 

[Noodletoro]

His GSAA this past year was not very good, however.

Another example of why people find advanced stats people so annoying at times. "Not sure what Dallas is up to?" I don't know Sean maybe they are looking at more than just the past year? Maybe they are looking at other statistics and actually watching games. Maybe Lehtonen has sucked for years and imploded the past two times the team made the playoffs? Who knows?

I mean by those metrics I guess Dallas should keep Lehtonen over guys like Schneider, Rinne, Quick, Fleury if given the chance.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Does this trigger anything with the conditional pick in the Kings/Bolts deal?

If I'm remembering correctly, that condition was based on whether the Kings made the playoffs or not, and then I think there were more conditions to it, like depending on what round they got to. Since no playoffs, I don't think the conditional pick exists anymore.

 

[Morry83]

I like how we're trying to paint the picture that Kari Lehtonen is a good goaltender

 

[93Crazed101]

I like how we're trying to paint the picture that Kari Lehtonen is a good goaltender

He is very talented, but has lots of mental problems. He could be a Dubnyk until the day he retires.

Unlikely, but possible.

 

[oconnor9sean]

Only on HF could the solution to the problem "We're spending way too much on goaltending" be "So let's spend more"

They have the cap space. The issue isn't how much they're spending. It's that they were spending money on bad goalies.

 

[Noodletoro]

I like how we're trying to paint the picture that Kari Lehtonen is a good goaltender

He is pretty great in a world where hockey is only played 5v5, the playoffs don't exist, and the only NHL season happened in 16-17.