Why the Dallas Stars Should Part Ways With Jamie Benn on the Ice
When a team doesn’t win the Stanley Cup, the front office reflects on all of the pros and cons that transpired during that season.
When you see the pros, you want to keep rolling with them and keep the guys who excelled around. When you see the cons and the shortcomings, especially in the salary cap era, you look to make changes.
Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has established himself as a legend and one of the best players in franchise history. Like Brenden Morrow, Benn doesn’t need a ring to back these indisputable facts up. Benn has put in the years and numbers in Dallas to one day have his jersey retired.
However, nobody plays forever. The wall is undefeated. Benn’s regression is holding the team back. His decline is noticeable from multiple viewpoints.
If Stars GM Jim Nill is serious about wanting to bring a second Stanley Cup to Dallas, tough decisions have to be made.
Parting ways with Benn is one of those choices that’ll benefit Dallas.
It’s Time to Pass the Torch
It is simply time to let somebody else take charge in Dallas. For a team trying to get back into Stanley Cup contention, you need a leader who’s putting up better numbers than what Benn has been posting. Jamie may still be a heart-and-soul player. But objectively speaking, the results have been subpar after April.
Wyatt Johnston or Miro Heiskanen are likely the two best bets for who should be the next captain of the team. Johnston would likely be the best man up for team captaincy right now. His goal-scoring prowess, composure, and willingness to stand up for a teammate who is hurt or for a teammate who took a cheap shot are all strong, qualifying characteristics of a leader.
Handing down the captaincy from one player on the team to another is no insult. Anze Kopitar once took over wearing the C from Dustin Brown for the Los Angeles Kings. Brown continued playing with the Kings, where he spent his entire career before retiring.
Let’s Be Honest With Ourselves
Jamie will always be an icon not only among the Stars but across all of Dallas sports. He also has a history of cheap shots and making dirty plays to hurt opposing players. It’s becoming part of his reputation, as his scoring has declined over the last couple of years. Benn has shown in the past that he can play better on the ice. Notably, back in 2024. But we live in a ‘what have you done with me lately ’ world that isn’t seeing Benn setting examples that a cup-contending team puts into action.
Taking selfish penalties in the heat of a playoff battle hasn’t resulted in playoff victories. The Stars need more from Benn. After posting zero points in six games vs the Wild, many doubt that Benn can contribute at the highest level of hockey in the world anymore.
Two things can be true at the same time: Benn is one of the best players and captains in franchise history. Cross-checking opponents in the neck is wrong.
Benn’s Other Potential in Dallas
There are a few guys currently in the Stars organization who hold hockey operations in Dallas after their playing years for the Stars. When Benn does eventually retire, he deserves and should have the chance to work with the Stars in an off-ice role.
No matter what happens with Benn, today’s Stars organization has definitely had a better relationship with him than the previous Stars ownership had with Mike Modano.
Potential Off-Ice Reunions
Rich Peverley (Assistant GM/Player Personnel). Marty Turco (Special Assistant to the President). The brother of the captain, Jordie Benn (Player Development Assistant /Amateur Scout). Three fan favorites who are on ice are Dallas alumni still working for the Stars today.
Imagine how neat a story it would be if both the Benn brothers were working together in Dallas, side by side once again. They’ve been (pun intended) there and done that on the ice.
Working in an office setting would add to the legacy of two hockey brothers working side by side.
It would absolutely be a nice story for the Benn family, the franchise, fans, and the overall community in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Discover more from Dallas Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categorized:Stars