Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn changes stance on his contract season without engaging in extension talks.
General manager Jim Nill shared with the Dallas Morning News that he approached Benn regarding an extension, but the experienced forward is focused solely on this season. Nill recounted, “I asked him, ‘Do you want to start talking about two years down the road yet?’ He was clear: ‘Jim, I just want to win this year and make decisions from there.’” This reflects a strategy similar to that of Joe Pavelski, where Benn considers the team’s needs before making future commitments.
At 35 years old, Benn is in the final year of an eight-year,
million and a full no-move clause. Last season, he recorded 21 goals and 60 points over 82 games, along with four goals and 15 points in 19 playoff games, as the Stars advanced to the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive year. Having spent his entire 15-year career with the Stars, Nill expressed plans to keep Benn with the team once he is ready to discuss the future. “As long as I’m the GM here, he’s going to be a Dallas Star,” Nill stated. “He’s earned that right.”
Benn, selected in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, has achieved 383 goals and 907 points in 1,112 career games.
Regarding Jake Oettinger, the Stars’ goaltender is also expected to play out his expiring contract as he approaches restricted free agency next summer. Nill indicated that the goaltender market remains unsettled, with restricted free agent Jeremy Swayman yet to sign with the Boston Bruins and pending UFA Igor Shesterkin in extension talks with the New York Rangers.
“We’re going to talk to Jake. There’s still some contracts out there to be signed, which are going to affect that. So really, no rush for that to happen,” Nill explained. Oettinger, 25 years old, has a ** $ 4 million cap hit** this season, in the final year of a three-year deal. He had a record of 35-14-4 last season with a .905 save percentage and a 2.72 goals-against average. In the playoffs, he went 10-9 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.24 GAA. Drafted 26th overall in 2017, Oettinger’s career record stands at 113-48-23, with a 2.51 GAA and .913 save percentage.
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