Jamie Benn will continue to wear the Star on his chest, as the Dallas Stars have signed their captain to a one-year contract extension. The deal, announced on June 26, 2025, carries a base salary of $1 million, with the potential to reach $4 million through performance-based bonuses. This move ensures that Benn, who has been the heart and soul of the team for over a decade, will remain in Dallas for his 17th NHL season.
Stars General Manager Jim Nill expressed his excitement about the signing, stating, "Jamie embodies everything it means to be a Dallas Star, and has since he was drafted 18 years ago. There was never a doubt that Jamie would return next season, and we are thrilled for both our organization and our fans that he will continue to lead our team in our pursuit of winning a championship.”
Benn, 35, is the Stars' longest-tenured player, having served as their captain since September 19, 2013. Throughout his NHL career, all of which has been with Dallas, Benn has amassed impressive statistics. In 1,192 regular-season games, he has recorded 399 goals and 557 assists for a total of 956 points. He also won the Art Ross Trophy in 2014-15 as the league's leading scorer.
The contract's structure, featuring a lower base salary with significant bonus potential, is similar to deals often given to veteran players. TSN's Chris Johnston reports the contract can become a $4MM deal, meaning Benn will have $3MM available to him in performance bonuses. Johnston expanded on the bonus structure, reporting that Benn would receive a $500K bonus for 20, 30, 50, and 60 games played, $500K for a Western Conference Final win, and $500K for a Stanley Cup Final win. This allows the Stars to manage their salary cap effectively while still rewarding Benn for his contributions.
Benn's presence extends beyond statistics. He is a leader on and off the ice, and his teammates and fans respect his dedication and work ethic. This past season, he played in 80 games, scoring 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points. In the playoffs, where the Stars reached the Western Conference Final for the third consecutive year, Benn contributed one goal and two assists.
The Stars have been active this offseason, also re-signing forward Matt Duchene to a four-year contract and RFAs Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundqvist. However, re-signing Benn puts the Stars in a tight position, as the team now has less than $1 million in cap space. This likely means that pending UFAs such as Evgenii Dadonov and Mikael Granlund will likely test the free agent market.
