Goalie Ben Bishop signed a team-friendly six-year contract with the Stars Friday, getting $29.5 million or an average of $4.916 per season.
The deal is front-loaded _ $7 million in the first season, then moving down to $6.5 million, $5.5 million, $3.5 million, $3.5 million and $3.5 million. Bishop was rumored to be seeking in excess of $6 million a season in Tampa Bay, so this was a pleasant surprise for most Stars fans.
"I'm happy with the team, I'm excited about what we can do, and I wanted to get it done," said Bishop, whose free agent rights were acquired from Los Angeles on Tuesday.