Defenseman Jordie Benn Signs For Three More Years In Dallas

Jordie Benn (Credit: Steven Christy)

The trade with Boston sort of obscured another bit of news for the Dallas Stars over the past twenty-four hours: the signing of defenseman Jordie Benn. After initially having a three year contract announced by his agent on Twitter a few days ago, the Dallas Stars confirmed that contract yesterday. The deal is two-way in the first year and two-way in the second and third years.

This deal suggested that the Stars are confident in Benn's ability to mature into a 6/7 swing man for the club longer term. It is a pretty incredible story for the player once best known as "Jamie Benn's brother". After starting in the ECHL and CHL, Benn signed in Texas. He didn't get into many games to start but then found his way onto the roster and played so well that Glen Gulutzan couldn't take him out. That play earned him a Dallas contract, which has now turned into this three year deal. He's played 29 NHL games and scored eight points. When he was playing in the CHL, I don't know if many thought that Benn would end up in the NHL. Now, he's got three-year NHL contract.

Here's the relase:

The Texas Stars announced today that the Dallas Stars, the club’s National Hockey League affiliate, have signed defenseman Jordie Benn to a three-year contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Benn, 25, concluded the 2012-13 season with six points (1G-5A) in 26 games for Dallas. He scored his first career NHL goal on March 23, 2013 against the Colorado Avalanche. On the season, he earned four of his six points on home ice at the American Airlines Center.

In addition to his time in Dallas, Benn also skated in 43 games for Texas, the Stars’ top development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). He finished fourth amongst team defensemen in points (7G-14A-21P) on the season. Benn has appeared in 165 career AHL games for Texas, which ranks seventh on the team’s all-time list, and he has 65 career points (18 goals, 47 assists), which ranks 10th all-time.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Victoria, British Columbia was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Dallas on July 1, 2011.