Ben Bishop said a stint in physical condition in the American Hockey League last week made it clear his playing career was over with a knee injury.

“If I was a forward I could play right now,” said the Dallas Stars goaltender on Tuesday. “But just with the butterfly, the torque you put on your knee, it couldn’t really get better.”

Bishop last played in Game 5 of the 2020 Western Conference Second Round against the Colorado Avalanche on August 31. He missed all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee on October 21, 2020. He was placed on the long-term injured reserve recovering from knee surgery and the player The 35-year-old was hoping for another chance to extend his career when the Stars loaned him to Texas from the AHL for a conditioning mission on Dec. 7.

“Last week when we drained it there were still spots in the fluid, which meant there was cartilage wearing away,” Bishop said. “With all of that, I still wanted to go down and try because I wanted one last try to make sure.”

He started on Dec. 9 and allowed eight goals on 34 shots in an 8-4 loss to Chicago.

“I was hoping I could get off and that everything was going to be okay,” Bishop said. “But obviously after the game it blew up. Talking to the medics, it doesn’t make sense to just tear your knee if you don’t plan to start playing again.”

General manager Jim Nill said on Saturday Bishop would be placed on LTIR until the end of his contract. Bishop has two more seasons on the six-year, $ 29.5 million contract (average annual value of $ 4.92 million) he signed on May 12, 2017.

“It’s a huge loss for us and a tough day for Ben, a tough few days,” Nill said. “Really, it was hard for him for over a year trying to rehabilitate. He felt good, he felt bad, but he still hoped it would come back. But in the end, that’s how it is. let it happen. “

Bishop said the knee injury dates back to the second round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“I think through this process I did PRP (platelet rich plasma), stem cells, cortisone… probably 30 injections,” he said. “We tried everything. Unfortunately, it just couldn’t get to where I needed it.

“At the end of the day, I couldn’t get that full range and power back, and it still puffs me up.”

Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round (85th overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft, Bishop posted a 222-128-36 record with a goals-against average of 2.32, a percentage of saves, 921 and 33 shutouts in 413 games (397 starts). ) in 11 seasons with the Blues, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Kings and Los Angeles Stars.

Video: DAL @ ANA: Bishop denies 27 shots for 33rd NHL shutout

A three-time Vézina Trophy finalist and top NHL goalie (2014, 2016, 2019), Bishop helped the Lightning reach the Stanley Cup final in 2015, when they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games. . He is second in wins (131) and shutouts (17) in Lightning history, behind Andrei Vasilevskiy in each (204 wins, 28 shutouts).

“It’s very sad personally to see what happened,” said Stars coach Rick Bowness. “Ben was a big reason I came here three years ago, because you don’t win in this league without a Class A goalie. You don’t, and he gives it to us. Our goalie this year has been very good, luckily, but “Bish”, the way he handles the puck there and his readings, he has a great hockey IQ for a goalie.

“He reads the game really well. And his ability to get out of the net and handle the puck, you spend less time in your zone. There are a lot of qualities on the ice that we will miss and a lot of qualities off the ice because he is a great teammate and is fun to be around. He will therefore be dearly missed.

Bishop said he has heard from several teammates since Nill announced on Saturday he could no longer play, and a few attended his in-person press conference on Tuesday.

“When it first happened, nothing really hit me,” he said. “It wasn’t really until I started getting texts from the guys I played with, the coaches, and hearing from people I haven’t heard from in 13 years, 14 years… people who contacted every team I’ve met. played with. It hits you, and it’s kind of waves. “

Bishop said he will stay in Dallas and stay close to his Stars teammates.

“I will stay in the game,” he said. “That’s what I love, that’s what I know. We’re going to take a little Christmas break here and then come back and see.”

NHL.com Independent Correspondent Taylor Baird contributed to this report