Trade Grade: Dallas Stars trade Ben Bishop to the Buffalo Sabers

Like I said in the NBA trade grade article with JaMychal Green, I did not expect for a trade to be announced during the finals. Well it happened for the NHL as well and it mainly a move done for salary cap reasons. The trade involves goaltender Ben Bishop and the teams involved are the Dallas Stars and Buffalo Sabers. Details of the trade are shown down below.

Buffalo Sabers acquire: G Ben Bishop and a 2022 7th Round Pick
Dallas Stars Acquire: Future Considerations

Buffalo Sabers Side

If you were to tell me years ago that Ben Bishop would be a Buffalo Saber, I would have thought you were joking. But lets be real, I doubt Bishop plays another game in the NHL ever again. Knee injuries have completely derailed him and he has not played a game since 2020. This was made so the Sabers can get to the salary floor and the 7th round pick was just bonus value. The best part is the Sabers are not expected to give anything to the Dallas Stars in this trade.

Dallas Stars Side

This is an easy one to analyze for the Stars. They desperately needed to get cap space. Making this move the Stars save from paying a 1 million dollar bonus and they only pay a portion of Ben Bishops contract. All they had to sacrifice was a late round pick in order for them to do it. Not bad for the Stars.

Grades for Ben Bishop Trade
Buffalo Sabers – A+
Dallas Stars – A

Win win trade for both teams, I contemplated giving both teams the same grade, but i am leaning towards the Sabers with this one. They got closer to the cap floor and even got an extra draft pick to help build the team. The Stars get rid of a bad contract and did not have to sacrifice much in order for them to do it. Fantastic move by Buffalo Sabers GM Kevyn Adams and Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill.