It's been a rough offseason for the Dallas Stars, but they took matters into their own hands to shift the momentum when they signed their longtime captain, Jamie Benn.
Benn's contract will be a one-year contract worth a base of $850,000, plus an additional $1,150,000 in potential performance bonuses. More importantly, it implies that this upcoming season will probably be Benn's swan song.
There were already questions about his age, leadership, and where the Stars would go moving forward. They have their answer now, but it's clear the last we will see of Benn will be in the 2026-27 season.
This will likely be Jamie Benn's last season with the Dallas Stars
Following the Stars' early playoff exit to the Minnesota Wild, we wondered if Benn would wear a Dallas Stars uniform again after his playoff dud. The Stars' captain did not record a single point in the first-round series against Minnesota, and we were wondering if he became a liability instead of an asset.
He's a true leader, but his cross-check on Ryan Hartman and hit against Mark Stone in the playoffs showed he has to maintain his cool. It's hurt the team, and he knows that, but these are the playoffs we're talking about, where penalties and suspensions mean everything.
Being the captain in a championship window is a lucky position to be in, and he has an easier job these days knowing he can rely on guys like Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnson, Matt Duchene and (hopefully) Jason Robertson to be the goal scorers. The longtime captain scored 15 goals and 21 assists last regular season, and he can still be an offensive threat when he's on the ice.
He's not going to be the Art Ross Trophy winner he was 10 years ago, but he can make noise on the ice as an enforcer and a tone-setter.
The heir apparent to Mike Modano has been a gift to the Stars organization for nearly two decades. A fan base to get two franchise players in a span of 37 seasons is about as lucky as it can get, and fans know that Benn has been an important part of their lives.
With Benn coming back for an 18th season, and a one-year contract in place, it looks like this is going to be Benn's swan song. Things could change next year, but it looks like the script is being set.
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