The Dallas Stars made a monumental move this past week by signing their captain to an eight-year contract extension. What are eight of his greatest moments with the Stars?
It’s been quite a seven-day period for Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn. On Thursday, he underwent surgery to repair a “slight muscle pull” in his stomach. On Friday, Stars general manager Jim Nill announced that Benn had signed an eight-year, $76 million extension to remain with Dallas through the 2024-25 season.
And yesterday he capped it all of by turning 27 years old. In other words, it was a busy week for the captain.
But we just can’t get over his new contract. I mean, it’s kind of a monumental deal. Jamie Benn, a top five player in the NHL and arguably the best captain around, will be a member of the Dallas Stars until he is 36 years old. In other words, he’ll more than likely be a Star for life.
The fact that Benn just happened to fall in the Stars’ lap in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL entry draft seems absolutely uncanny now. Benn has hit higher than a point-per-game average the past two seasons and is almost on the same pace throughout his career. He’s a diverse forward that can effectively play even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill.
The captain will do anything for his team, including playing all 82 games in a season where he suffered with extensive hip problems. This season turned out to be the year he won the Art Ross Trophy by leading the league with 87 points. He continues to surprise the NHL at an alarming rate, and will be a cornerstone feature in the Dallas offense for years to come. Not bad for a fifth rounder, huh?
So what are the Dallas Stars looking at over the next eight years? Well, that’s the fun part. The opportunities are endless, though it would be nice to see a Stanley Cup or two (or eight?) in there somewhere.
We thought it would be fun to take a look back on Benn’s NHL career and find some of his best moments. Why not take a walk down memory lane and indulge ourselves in the reminiscing? We’ve got eight years ahead of us. Let’s look at eight of his greatest moments as a Star up until now. Enjoy!
Next: Honorable Mention: Benn The Wrecking Ball