Summer School: Confident Ben Bishop aims to be Stars' difference maker

As players get ready for the 2018-19 season under new head coach Jim Montgomery, let's take a look at what they did last season and where they can improve in a series we'll call "Summer School." Next up, DallasStars.com senior staff writer Mike Heika takes a look at goaltender Ben Bishop.
Previous installments:Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin, John Klingberg, Mattias Janmark, Radek Faksa, Jamie Benn, Stephen Johns, Esa Lindell, Marc Methot

Ben Bishop

Position: Goalie
Age:31
Height:6-foot-7
Weight: 225 pounds
Catches: Left
2017-18 Stats:26-17-5, 2.49 GAA, .916 save percentage
2018-19 Status:Under contract for $4.9 million cap hit with actual salary of $6.5 million

What happened last year

When he was healthy, Bishop was everything the Stars were hoping he would be when they
signed him to a six-year contract
. In addition to his own numbers (a 2.49 goals against average and .916 save percentage), he helped the Stars move from 29th in goals against average (3.17) and 30th in save percentage (.893) to sixth in GAA (2.71) and 13th in save percentage (.909). However, when he injured his knee in March,
the Stars slipped out of the playoffs
.

Heika's outlook

Bishop should be in the prime of his career. While he had a rough 2016-17 --
as he was being phased out in Tampa Bay because of young goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy
and struggled in a brief stint with the Kings -- he is only 31 and looked very good when healthy last season. Bishop has a history of injuries. He
missed the end of the year in 2014
with the Lightning because of a wrist injury,
was hurt in the Stanley Cup Final in 2015
with a torn groin, and
was hurt in the playoffs in 2016
with an ankle injury. Ifhe can stay healthy, he has a chance to be a Top 10 goalie in the NHL. Bishop loves to get out and handle the puck, which should mesh well with the expected style of new coach Jim Montgomery. He also doesn't mind taking a leadership role, which also should be good for a rookie head coach. If Bishop and Anton Khudobin can provide a consistent pairing, the Stars
should be able to offer the goal support
to create some wins. With a career record of 174-97-30, Bishop has consistently been able to push his team into playoff contention.
BE LOUD, WEAR GREEN, GO STARS: [Single Game Tickets for all 2018-19 preseason and regular-season games are on sale now]

They said it

"Since I became a starting goalie, I've played top 10 in the league in games played. It's just unfortunate because it seems that it always happens at bad times. If it happens in the first month of the season and you get back within a month, there's no reason to talk about it.It's kind of unfortunate that it's in the end of the season. It's a little fluky with your own guy falling on you. Not the way you want to go out for the season." -- Ben Bishop on why he doesn't feel he's "injury prone."

"Very relaxed, very confident. You can tell the team is confident playing in front of him. I think the team went to the next level when he was on his game and healthy." -- Stars coach Jim Montgomery on what he has seen on film from Bishop.

"It's exciting. It's a new year -- new coach, new coaching staff. I'm really looking forward to it. I think it's going to be great." -- Bishop on how he feels the team will perform under Montgomery.

"I really like how he handles the puck and interacts with his teammates. It makes a big difference. He's one of the guys who has the most playoff experience in this locker room, so we need him to be a leader. In order to be a great teammate, you need to use your experience and make your teammates better. He is a bright young man who has the ability to do that." -- Montgomery on Bishop's athleticism and leadership.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.
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