Jamie Benn, a long-time captain for the Dallas Stars, is facing uncertainty about his future as he approaches unrestricted free agency. General Manager Jim Nill plans to discuss Benn's contract status after the draft. With Dallas managing tight cap space, especially with key players like Jason Robertson up for restricted free agency, the team needs to assess how it can retain Benn while balancing salary constraints.

By the Numbers
  • Benn has played 1,252 regular season games and is 8 points shy of 1,000 career points.
  • His contract this past season had a base salary of $1MM plus $3MM in potential bonuses, with $2MM counted against next year's cap due to LTIR.
State of Play
  • Dallas has approximately $10MM in cap space but may struggle to sign Benn along with other restricted free agents.
  • Benn鈥檚 recent performance shows a decline, with 15 goals and 21 assists in 60 games last season.
What's Next

A meeting between Benn and the Stars' management is anticipated shortly after the draft, where his future and potential contract will be evaluated. If negotiations proceed, he might sign a similar one-year deal to his previous contract, focusing on achievable bonuses.

Bottom Line

As Benn navigates his right to unrestricted free agency, the Stars must carefully weigh their options, balancing the need for veteran leadership against budget constraints. His ability to remain valuable on a short-term contract could impact the team鈥檚 immediate and future plans significantly.