Despite entering training camp fully healthy, the Dallas Stars will start their 2025-26 regular season without an important piece. Stars GM Jim Nill announced Thursday that captain Jamie Benn will undergo surgery for a collapsed lung and miss the start of the season.<\/p>\n
Benn, 36, suffered the injury late in the third period of Tuesday\u2019s preseason game against Minnesota. He is expected to make a full recovery and will be reevaluated in four weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cLate in the third period, Jamie took a hit,\u201d Nill said Thursday. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a big hit. He was turning to protect the puck, and the guy came in behind. Just wrong place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nill said Benn went to the bench and told team staff something felt off. Team doctors conducted an X-ray at American Airlines Center and found a small hole in his lung. He was taken to Parkland Hospital that night, where he\u2019s been since.<\/p>\n
Doctors told Nill that Benn cannot fly on an airplane or participate in any physical activity for four weeks. After Oct. 23, Nill said Benn should be able to skate and start light contact.<\/p>\n
Benn would miss at least the first seven regular-season games on that timeline. However, he will likely miss more. Most injuries allow players to continue working out in some capacity to maintain conditioning. Benn won\u2019t get the same luxury.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever timeline you put him on, I think he has a different one,\u201d Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the ideal start to what could be the Stars captain\u2019s final year. This season will be Benn\u2019s 17th in the NHL and with the Stars. He was a free agent over the summer but returned to Dallas on a one-year deal worth $1 million, as he continues his pursuit of winning the Stanley Cup before retirement.<\/p>\n
Despite being the oldest player on the roster, Benn has avoided serious injuries over the last few seasons. He has played in 326 of the Stars\u2019 last 328 regular-season games. He missed two games late last season for the birth of his son and maintenance. Up until those games, he had the fifth-longest active streak of games played in the NHL.<\/p>\n
Benn scored 16 goals and accumulated 33 assists last season and averaged 15:18 of ice time. He saw a reduced role in the playoffs and a demotion to the fourth line and is expected to play more of a depth role this season.<\/p>\n
However, his leadership remains his biggest contribution to the locker room. He was named the sixth captain in Dallas history prior to the 2013-14 season. He is also the only player on the current roster to have played under Gulutzan during his first stint as Dallas\u2019 head coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s tough,\u201d Gulutzan said. \u201cIt\u2019s tough when it\u2019s your captain, a leader in your locker room, but he\u2019s going to be back at some point. I\u2019m glad it\u2019s now and not in November.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Benn\u2019s injury, the Stars\u2019 roster was close to set. But his absence could open up an opportunity for a younger player to crack the opening-night lineup in Winnipeg on Oct. 9.<\/p>\n
In the mix for that spot are Justin Hryckowian and Arttu Hyry, who both spent a handful of games on Dallas\u2019 roster last season when they were among the top scorers for the Texas Stars.<\/p>\n
Adam Erne, whom the Stars signed to a professional tryout for training camp, is also looking to earn a roster spot. The 30-year-old has played 379 career NHL games, including most recently 24 in Edmonton in the 2023-24 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou deal with this all the time, but it\u2019s part of the game,\u201d Nill said. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for somebody else. Jamie\u2019s a big part of our team, but we\u2019ll be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n
On X\/Twitter: @Lassimak<\/p>\n