It looks like the brother act will remain in Dallas for at least the next few years as the team signed defenseman Jordie Benn to a three-year contract extension on Friday morning.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the always-reliable Mike Heika has some information on what the cap hit should be:
I’m hearing Jordie Benn’s three year deal will average $1.1 million per season.
— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) June 24, 2016
He had a cap hit and salary of $700,000 last season and would have hit unrestricted free agency in a few days. Given the going rate for defensemen (see – Alex Goligoski’s $5.45 million contract and the rumored Aaron Ekblad extension), that’s fairly reasonable. For another measurement, Aaron Rome was making $1.5 million in cap hit on a relatively lower cap team to sit in the press box most nights.
Benn likely slots into the No. 6/7 slot on the defense, where he can play more if someone is injured or struggling, but his overall development won’t be hurt if he spends more time in the press box. Here is an overall look at his recent performance in graphic form:
Jordie Benn just signed a cheap deal; nothing flash but not harmful, which is more than can be said for many. pic.twitter.com/UahQgz3tIN
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) June 24, 2016
His signing gives the Stars five defensemen under contract for next season in Benn, John Klingberg, Johnny Oduya, Stephen Johns and Patrik Nemeth. Jamie Oleksiak is a restricted free agent. As far as his brother, the Stars will be working on a contract extension with Jamie Benn this summer.
Here is the official release from the team:
Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed defenseman Jordie Benn to a three-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Benn, 28, finished the 2015-16 season with 12 points (3-9=12) in 64 regular-season games. His three goals on the season tied a career-high. The blueliner finished third on the team with 94 blocked shots. He played one game during the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, registering four penalty minutes and two blocked shots.
In 244 career regular-season games, all with Dallas, he has earned 56 points (9-47=56). In parts of five seasons, he has accumulated 327 hits and 369 blocks. The defenseman has made two Stanley Cup Playoffs appearances, recording three assists (0-3=3) in seven games.
“Jordie has earned the trust of his teammates and the coaching staff, and he’s taken advantage of every opportunity put in front of him during his career,” said Nill. “His ability to play in a variety of roles make him valuable to our defensive depth and flexibility, and we’re happy to have him locked up for the next three seasons.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Victoria, British Columbia was originally signed by Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2011.