Dallas Stars and Captain Jamie Benn Agree on Eight Year Contract Extension

The Dallas Stars announced on Friday that they signed captain Jamie Benn to an eight-year 76 million-dollar contract extension. 

Benn, 26, still has a year left on his current contract as the extension does not kick in until next summer. The new deal will run from the 2017-2018 National Hockey League season, lasting through the 2024-2025 season, with an average annual value of 9.5 million dollars per year.

On the team’s website the captain said, “The Stars are the only organization I know and Dallas is home to me. In working with the Gaglardi Family [team ownership] and Jim Nill [general manager], they made it clear that they are dedicated to winning, and winning the right way.”  

He added, “I am happy to commit to that process for eight more years. My teammates and I value the passion and dedication that we receive from Stars fans and we are looking to get this season started.”

This past season Benn finished in second place in scoring with 89 points and third in goals with 41. As a finalist for the Hart Trophy for Most Valuable Player in the league, he came in third place. 

His goals and points totals were career highs, as he had two more points than he had in 2014-2015, when he won the Art Ross Trophy, given to the NHL player with the most points during the season. 

During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Benn scored 15 points in 13 games. For the second straight season, he played in all 82 games for the Stars. 

Nill said, “Jamie has evolved into on of the most complete players in the NHL and his ability to lead our team is second to none. He impacts the game in so many ways, and this signing was extremely important for the direction of the franchise.”

 

He added, “He has shown in the playoffs, and at international events like the Olympics and the World Championship, that he is up to any challenge and that his fingerprints will be left on the game. He is our leader and does things the right way, every day.”

 

Benn recently had surgery on his core muscles this past week, and will need about six weeks to recover from it. 

The Stars fifth round pick, 129^th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft has scored 192 goals and 256 assists in 508 games through seven seasons with Dallas.