Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn Makes List Of NHL’s Top 20 Players Right Now

The 2017-18 NHL season is about to get underway, and the pool of talent across the league is as deep as ever. In the NHL Network’s Top 50 Players list, Jamie Benn was logged as the 17th best player. Is that a fair ranking for the Dallas Stars captain?

There are plenty of dynamic duos across the NHL, but it’s hard to argue that there is a better combo than the Dallas Stars’ duo of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.

Since the 2013-14 season, the two have wreaked havoc on the NHL. They make up the Dallas top line and are almost always on the scoresheet.

It’s hard to not get excited while watching them play. They are two of the most prolific scorers and complete hockey players in the league. And with the 2017-18 season fast approaching, the fifth act is shaping up to be the most exciting act yet.

That’s primarily because of the new team they have around them this season, but it is also because of their raw talent. Benn and Seguin are known as two of the best hockey players around the league. The Dallas Stars are lucky to have them both on their top line.

Dallas Stars

Tyler Seguin is entering his eighth season at the NHL level and fifth with the Stars. He has without a doubt been the Stars’ best addition since Jim Nill began his tenure as GM of the Stars. Seguin averages over one point a game when in Victory Green (and is the only Star to do so, for that matter). He has incredible speed, an insanely quick shot, and has excellent vision and puck-handling skills. These characteristics make him one of the most respected and talented centers in the league.

Jamie Benn, on the other hand, is an entirely new animal. That’s saying a lot, considering you are comparing him to one of the youngest and most skilled forwards in the NHL.

Benn celebrated his 28th birthday this past summer and will enter his ninth season in the league. He has spent all nine with the Stars ever since being drafted by Dallas in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

It’s hard not to argue Jamie Benn’s eliteness. He’s the ultimate power forward, with an impressive balance of scoring, passing, defense, hitting, special teams play, and overall leadership. Benn has served as captain since the 2013-14 season and has done one of the best jobs of any Dallas player to ever wear the C.

In addition to being a tremendous player, he’s also a dedicated leader. Benn will do anything for the betterment of the team, whether that means coming in clutch in a game-time situation or standing up for another member when they need help. Not to mention his undeniable reliability.

The Stars are lucky to have their captain. Without him, the team isn’t the same. They miss out on a key element of their lineup. The Dallas Stars know it and so does the NHL. That’s what makes Benn so valuable.

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But how valuable is he? Over the past month, the NHL Network has compiled a list of the Top 50 Players in the NHL right now. This list includes forwards, defenders, and goaltenders. They started by releasing nos. 50-41, followed with 40-31, and so on. Last Sunday, they released the list of players 30-21. Tyler Seguin came in at no. 22.

Whether you agree with that ranking or not, it is a pretty fair ranking. No. 22 on a list including over 800 players is pretty good. Seguin has proven that he is an elite player and definitely has the potential to be even higher in the list next year.

Last night, the NHL Network released nos. 20-11. Jamie Benn finally made an appearance on the list, coming in at 17th.

How do you feel about that, Stars fans? Chances are that you think this is a little low if you side with the majority of “Stars nation.” Benn’s value is undefinable to the Stars, and for that reason alone, you probably think that Benn should be in the top 10, or maybe even the top five.

To put things into perspective, here are a few players that fall just behind Benn:

Alex Ovechkin, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Duncan Keith, Ryan Getzlaf, P.K. Subban

On the flip side, here are a few players who are just above the Dallas captain:

Sergei Bobrovsky, Vladimir Tarasenko, Drew Doughty, Brad Marchand, Nicklas Backstrom

Does this information influence your thoughts in any way? They very well may, and that’s perfectly understandable.

It is obvious that Jamie Benn is an elite player and one of the most talented Dallas Stars forwards in history. Any team in the NHL would be lucky to have him at the forefront of their lineup.

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Is that worth 17th place though? That’s up to your imagination. Everyone has an opinion. You might think that 17th is a fair ranking; you might even think that he’s too high or that he shouldn’t be ahead of someone he is currently above. But that’s not a problem. There are plenty of valid arguments made for all three sides.

Next: Examining What The Stars' Roster Looks Like Right Now

So what do you think? Whatever you may believe, just remember that this list won’t affect Jamie Benn’s impact on the Dallas Stars in this season or in the seasons to come. The Stars found a diamond in the rough in the 2007 NHL Draft, and they will continue to reap the benefits of that diamond, no matter what any list says. Don’t forget that.

11 days until the captain is on the ice, proving his immense worth yet again.