Since the beginning of Tyler Seguin’s spectacular run in Dallas, he and winger Jamie Benn have united to form perhaps the game’s best one-two punch. It’s up to the Dallas Stars coaching staff to recapture that magic.
When asked about the Dallas Stars from a far, a casual hockey fan or even one of the hardcore variety – from another team – will first think of galvanizing winger Jamie Benn and swift center Tyler Seguin.
And you can’t blame them, they’re the two best players on a team that has failed to live up to expectations in both the standings, or in deployment and appreciation of how exceptional these two players are.
For example, as far as dynamic duos are concerned, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin have annexed to configure perhaps the premier one-two linemate punch in hockey over the last three seasons, and into this one.
Seguin and Benn have tallied a combined total of 489 points over the last three seasons, which is tops in the NHL. Not Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, not even the Sedins can compare.
Dallas Stars
Seguin and Benn this season haven’t played nearly as well as the three seasons prior, except that isn’t entirely their fault, and I’ll explain.
In a search for stability within the lineup over the course of a season that has had none of it, Stars head coach Lindy Ruff (for now… evil laugh) has explored the downright weirdest line combinations possible.
We’ve seen Tyler Seguin, the 2nd overall pick in 2010’s Draft, on lines with Lauri Korpikoski, Jiri Hudler, and Remi Elie. The Captain has too had to endure Korpikoski, as well as go-arounds with Ales Hemsky.
So, it’s kinda obvious, right? Good players need fellow good players to succeed or else they’ll be dragged down. In their own rights, every Dallas Stars player is good in a specific role, but Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are best when their offensive games can shine with little worry on defense. Well, at least that was the thought with Cody Eakin.
It’s no question that Stars center and resident ginger Cody Eakin is having the worst season of his young pro career. While shortened by a preseason injury from which he missed the first fourth of the schedule, his advanced stats are still horrendous; the 25-year-old is a minus Corsi (49.6%), Fenwick (49.%), and Relative Corsi (-1.7%) player with his zone start percentages (48.5 oZS%, 51.5 dZS%) being basically even.
So here’s a great idea. Put him with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, two world class players!
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No, please stop, please for the love of god stop.
Benn and Seguin’s best Corsi For Percentage this season has been when they’re lined up with winger Patrick Eaves, who unfortunately is long gone and is enjoying his six points (4G, 2A) in 11 games with Anaheim. However, when matched with the bearded beast from Calgary, Alberta, the “Bennguin” duo has their Corsi skyrocket to 58.4%. Plus, as Corsi only measures even strength competition, this doesn’t accurately describe their power play excellence this season, which was great.
So, yeah, put Seguin and Benn with a quality player and watch the points rack up. What might help them next season is the possible return of Russian forward Valeri Nichushkin, who had widespread success with Benn and Seguin in both his rookie and sophomore years.
Next: Dallas Stars Need To Reload And Worry About Playoffs Next Season
Expect the Stars to further experiment with the Benn and Seguin line as the season winds down. Hopefully, at least, they’re kept together.