Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill told the Dallas Morning News that he had approached Jamie Benn about a two-year contract extension, but the captain refused to initiate talks because he was focused on the present moment.
“He was very clear: ‘Jim, I just want to win this year and I’ll see what happens next,'” Nill said. He is fully with the team. In a way, he’s following in the footsteps of Joe Pavelski, who waited to find out what the team needed and then see how he could help. »
The 35-year-old forward is entering the final year of an 8-year contract worth US$76 million signed with the Stars in 2016 this season. His salary accounts for $9.5 million of the payroll annually. . His agreement includes a no-movement clause.
Benn scored 21 goals and 39 assists in 82 games last season before adding 4 goals and 11 assists in 19 playoff games. The Stars were eliminated in the association final for a second consecutive year.
He spent his 15 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Stars and Nill expects the partnership to extend beyond next season. “As long as I’m the general manager here, he’ll be a member of the Stars,” he said. He has earned this right. »
Fifth round pick – 129th overall – of the Stars in 2007, Benn has 383 goals and 524 assists in 1,112 games.
Furthermore, it appears that goalkeeper Jake Oettinger will also wait until the end of the campaign before starting discussions with the team. Nill observed that the goalie market is uncertain at the moment due to the contract impasse between Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins. New York Rangers star goaltender Igor Shesterkin will also become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Oettinger is in the final year of a 3-year contract worth $12 million. He was 35-14-1 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .905 save percentage last season. In the playoffs, he went 10-9 with a 2.24 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
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