Dallas Stars Captain Jamie Benn Undergoes Surgery
The Dallas Stars will be without their captain, Jamie Benn, for a minimum of four weeks following his recent surgery for a collapsed lung, as confirmed by the organization on Thursday. Benn, 36, suffered the injury during the third period of a preseason matchup against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, where he played for 15 minutes and 47 seconds, contributing to the Stars’ narrow 3-2 victory in overtime.
Recovery and Impact on the Team
While Benn’s surgery mandates a significant recovery period, the team is optimistic that he will fully recuperate during this time. The Stars indicated they plan to reassess his condition in about a month, but in the interim, Benn will be sidelined for the remainder of the preseason and could miss as many as seven games in the regular season. The Stars face a challenging start, as five of those initial seven opponents are playoff teams from the previous season, presenting a difficult landscape to navigate without their seasoned leader. Assuming his recovery aligns with projections, Benn could potentially return to action on October 25 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Benn’s Career and Recent Performance
As he enters his 17th year with the Stars, a franchise he has been with since the start of his NHL career, Benn’s previous season saw him tally 16 goals and 49 points across 80 games. Notably, the Stars faced disappointment last year, being eliminated in the Western Conference finals for the third straight season. After finishing an eight-year contract, he opted for a one-year deal worth $1 million, providing the squad with experience while the salary cap is heavily allocated to key players like Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston, Jake Oettinger, Mikko Rantanen, and Jason Robertson.
Future Prospects and Milestones
Prior to his injury, Benn had been skating on the third line during preseason alongside teammates Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin, leaving a gap in the Stars’ forward lineup. This season held promise not only for team success but also for Benn’s personal achievements: he is just one goal shy of hitting the significant milestone of 400 career goals, eight games from reaching the impressive 1,200-game mark, and only 44 points away from the coveted 1,000-point milestone in his career. As the Stars aim for the Stanley Cup, they will need to navigate this challenge without their veteran captain for the time being.
