Stars sign Jamie Benn to five-year contract extension
The Dallas Stars signed center Jamie Benn to a five-year, $26.5 million contract extension on Thursday.
The deal was announced during the Stars' game against the Chicago Blackhawks. As a restricted free agent, Benn had been negotiating an agreement with Dallas since the end of the lockout three weeks ago.
Benn boarded a plane to Dallas Thursday night and could be available for Monday's game at Columbus.
The 23-year-old is entering his fourth season with the Stars and is coming off a career year, setting personal highs in goals (26), assists (37) and points (63). He was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game, where he won the accuracy shooting title during the Superskills Competition.
"Jamie Benn has proven in his short, but very productive NHL career, that he is not only this franchise's cornerstone player, but also an emerging superstar in the league," said Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk. "We believe that Jamie has the necessary tools to continue his growth and lead this team into the next great era of Dallas Stars hockey."
