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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Hockey Media React to the Stars’ Eight-Year Deal With Jamie Benn

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

Dallas Stars fans have plenty to celebrate now that Jamie Benn is set to lead the team through 2025. But the Captain’s eight-year, $76 million agreement is kind of a big deal everywhere.

Among other issues, Chris Peters examines the money Jamie is getting in the context of how other NHL’ers who play at his level are being compensated. [CBS Sports]

The [Patrick] Kane and [Jonathan] Toews deals have really changed the way stars are being paid. We saw it with the [Anze] Kopitar extension signed last season and expected to see it with [Steven] Stamkos before he opted to take less (tax benefits aside) to stay with Tampa. Based on the trend, Benn is getting exactly what he deserves.

Patrick Johnston, who writes for one of British Columbia’s major dailies, gives voice to the disappointment Vancouver fans may feel knowing their local hero still belongs to Texas. [The Province]

There’s little doubt the Canucks would have been interested in signing the Victoria-born Benn had he become a free agent next summer. Of course, as one of the league’s best players, he would have had plenty of suitors; but he’s decided to forego intrigue and has instead opted to stick with the team that drafted him 129th overall in 2007 (yes, the fifth round).

And Jared Clinton likes the Stars’ chances at a Stanley Cup with JaBenn and Tyler Seguin anchoring the team’s forward corps for the foreseeable future. [The Hockey News]

Over the past two seasons, no duo has been higher scoring than Benn and Seguin, who’ve notched a combined 146 goals and 326 points. They’re a terrifyingly solid one-two punch, and it’s a frightening prospect for the league’s other 29 goaltenders knowing the duo are signed on to play together for at least three more years.

Meanwhile, Allan Muir wonders who could take Jamie’s World Cup of Hockey roster spot if his recent core-muscle surgery leaves him questionable for the tournament. [Sports Illustrated]

Benn was one of the initial group of 16 players named to represent tournament favorites Canada and was expected to be a go-to offensive weapon. His absence from the lineup would leave a massive hole on the left wing, where Canada lacks world-class depth.

And Clinton suggests five players – including Jamie’s own teammate, Patrick Sharp – who might be able to take his place if doctors advise extra caution in September. [THN]

*****

The NHL Tonight crew discusses what to expect for Segs as he completes his recovery from an Achilles cut.

Who did the best work on their summer rebuild? Allan Muir looks at five teams, from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Edmonton Oilers, and hands out grades. [SI]

Meanwhile, Brian Compton takes a deep dive into the Calgary Flames‘ new look, from hiring former Stars coach Glen Gulutzun to drafting Matthew Tkachuk. [NHL]

Now that the Montreal Canadiens have parted ways with analytics guru Matt Pfeffer, what does it mean for the #fancystats movement in general? Bonus video: that clip from “Behind the B” in which Boston Bruins management justify the Seguin trade to themselves while also taking a veiled shot at the long-gone Phil Kessel. [Puck Daddy]

This proposed action directly affects the 2016 Rio Olympics, but the Russia doping controversy has already reached into hockey’s U18 world championships and could have even further-reaching effects.

Congratulations to Henrik Lundqvist, who just became the first goalie to receive the Crown of Sweden’s Victoria Scholarship for meritorious achievement. [Blueshirt Banter]

Finally: It’s ice-cream weather on NHL ice, too. Evgeni Malkin, Sean Monahan, Gabriel Landeskog, Tomas Tatar, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Joe Pavelski and more share their favorite flavors in the latest edition of Puck Personality.

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