Jamie Benn Making His Case For Hart Trophy
By Josh Clark
Jamie Benn has helped carry the Dallas Stars to postseason play this year. His actions this season give him a viable platform and argument for the Hart Trophy.
The NHL, like every other professional sport, is a league filled with substantial uptime and minimal downtime. All leagues seem to always have things going on, with little room for breaks.
The National Hockey League has stuck to their personal schedule for the last few years, and it goes a little something like this:
October – April: Regular season play
April – June: Stanley Cup playoffs
Late June: NHL Entry Draft and NHL Awards
July: Free agency opens
August: Downtime
September: Training camp and preseason
As you can see, August is really the only point where the NHL is sitting back. But even then, there can still be trades and/or free agent signings by different teams. In other words, writers and analysts in the hockey world never really have a day where there is nothing to write about.
But one of the summer events that many people forget about is the annual NHL Awards. On June 22, 2016, the next wave of awards will be handed out to various players, coaches, and general managers in Las Vegas, NV. Expect at least one Dallas Stars player to be in the running for various awards.
Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has been flaring up this season as the Stars’ primary source of offense. The 26-year old forward is once again helping carry the load for the Stars, and lighting up the scoreboard as a result.
Last season, Jamie Benn put on an outstanding performance in the final days of the Stars short-lived season. Scoring 15 points in his final six games, Benn helped the Stars finish on a high note as they fell just short of a wild card playoff spot. He played all 82 games for Dallas last year, starting in the majority of them with an ineffective hip that required surgery in the offseason.
Those 15 points helped push Benn to 87 points. Tallying the 87th on an assist in the final seconds of the Stars’ last game, he took the NHL lead in points and officially became the first Art Ross Trophy winner in Dallas Stars history.
It was an amazing season for Benn, and he came back this year healthy and better than ever. Along with an All-Star cast, Jamie Benn is making influential strides in his seventh pro season. These influential strides could be placing him in the race for an influence-based award.
A few days back, it looked like Jamie Benn had found his way into not only the Rocket Richard (most goals) race, but even maybe a second run at the Art Ross Trophy (most points). Benn is almost assuredly out of the Art Ross race, with Patrick Kane tallying a four point game on Sunday to increase his point total to 100 on the year. Benn currently sits with 88, an impressive number nonetheless.
The Rocket Richard is not entirely out of reach, but Benn does not control his own destiny. He would have to score four goals in his final two games to simply tie the leader (Alexander Ovechkin), and five to claim first place. But Ovechkin himself has three more games, meaning he could score any number of goals between now and then.
But the Hart Trophy is still a possibility. The Hart is awarded to the most valuable player in the league, and Jamie Benn is definitely in the running. Members of the Hockey Professional Writers’ Association vote to determine which player was the most valuable and influential to his team during the year.
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It is pretty clear that Jamie Benn is one of, if not the most impressive Stars player. He is the complete package, as some may say. He can score, set up, play physical, and defend his team. Benn has 41 goals and 47 assists for 88 points on the year.
But his leadership goes deeper than just that. His dedication to the team and ability to stand up for each member proves his value. GM Jim Nill and head coach Lindy Ruff both talk consistently about Benn’s leadership and dedication in their interviews. Everyone knows it, and you can see it by watching any game. He is always looking to make the team better.
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Jamie Benn is definitely the Dallas Stars’ most valuable player. Whether he wins it or not, he will continue to pick up his pace and improve each and every day. With the playoffs around the corner, that is exactly what the Stars need.