The Stars captain spoke about his future plans during exit interviews with reporters on Saturday in Frisco, Texas.
DALLAS — When the Dallas Stars were eliminated from the Western Conference Final, Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn was last to leave the ice.
Immediately, one of the top questions for fans: is this the final image of Benn in a Stars uniform? Benn, 35, is an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Stars have locked in its younger pillars in Jake Oettinger, Wyatt Johnston, Roope Hintz, Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen for years to come.
But what does the future hold for the team’s longest-tenured captain (12 seasons)?
“I’m planning on playing next year,” Benn told reporters in exit interviews on Saturday. “I don’t see myself going anywhere else. This is all I know.”
That sentiment should give Stars fans a good amount of relief. It does take two to tango, though.
“We’ll see if we can figure something out,” Benn added.
It’s unclear how Stars general manager Jim Nill feels about re-signing Benn, so it’ll be interesting to see if the two sides can come to a deal.
Nill, who has won the NHL’s Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award two years in a row, was named a finalist for the third straight year earlier this month. His nomination as a finalist for the award in the 2024-25 season marks his fifth all-time nomination for the honor, which is a NHL record.
The award winner will be named during a ceremony hosted by the league in June following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final. The specific date and location for this year’s ceremony has not yet been announced.