Last name: Jamie Benn
Number: 14
Age: 33
Place of birth: Victoria, British Columbia
Size weight: 6-2, 210
Statistics 2021-22: 18 goals, 28 assists and 46 points in 82 games
Contract: Three years remaining at a cap of $9.5 million. Actual salary of $6.5 million next season.
Evaluation of performances
Benn has seen his offensive performance decline over the past five seasons. In 2017-18, he led the Stars in scoring nearly a point per game (79 points in 82 games), recorded nearly 20 minutes per night (19:49) and shot 241 on goal. Last season, he averaged 16:48 on the ice, averaged 0.56 points per game (46 in 82 games played) and fired 182 shots on goal. He was at 5:45 the previous season and 0.67 points per game, so that seems to be a trend. Is it because his body is wearing out? Is it because the Stars are struggling to score as a team? Is it because Dallas went through a series of coaching moves that were difficult to deal with?
This is a difficult analysis to do. Benn had the same number of hits as he did five seasons ago, and he looks as physical and healthy as he was then. But has its use made him a less effective player? If so, where does it go from here? A new coaching staff could have a huge impact on Benn.
Video: DAL@ANA: Benn scores OT winner in 53 seconds
Expectations for 2022-23
It’s strange to say that one of your highest-paid players and team captain doesn’t belong in the team at 33, but that could be true for new coach Pete DeBoer and his team this season. .
If you believe that the first line of Jason Robertson with Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelsky should stay together, and if you believe freshly signed march of the masons deserves a shot on the left wing from the second line with a combination of Tyler SeguinWyatt Johnston or Denis Guryanovso Benn looks like a third liner to start the year.
Is Benn a center or a wing? Well if Radek Faksa and Ty Dellandrea are better choices at center, so Benn will likely be a left winger again. If you follow that logic, he could play with a combination of Faksa, Dellandrea, Gurianov or maybe one of the other deep forwards. Can you offend this group? That’s the challenge for DeBoer and company.
Video: DeBoer on Benn, Seguin: ‘They’re world-class players’
Calgary faced Blake Coleman 14:49 per game and had 33 points in 81 games. Tampa Bay played Pat Maroon 12:24 and had 27 points in 81 games. Is this Benn’s future? It’s hard to say. If the Stars can find a way to juggle players and create three score lines, the point potential will increase. But if Benn is a third line for much of the year, the downward trend in scores could very well continue.
This story has not been submitted for endorsement by the National Hockey League or the Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a senior writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.
