Dallas Stars Captain Jamie Benn OUT 4+ Weeks: What This Means for the Stars Opening Night Roster

Dallas Stars Captain Jamie Benn OUT 4+ Weeks: What This Means for the Stars Opening Night Roster

Big news on the injury front. Dallas Stars captain Jamie Ben suffers a collapsed lung and will be out at least four weeks. What does that mean for an already slim left-wing group? Roster cuts and moves continue to be made and a power play that’s a work in progress. Your Locked On Stars, your daily podcast on the Dallas Stars, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Howdy, Stars fans. I’m Joey Ericson, former producer of 105 Through the Fan. Please be sure to subscribe. We are free and available wherever you get your podcast and on YouTube. And as always, thank you so much for making us a part of your day and making us your first listen. and welcome to a late night edition of Locked On Stars, part of Locked on Podcast Network, your team every single day. Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting fanuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. We have so much to get into on today’s show, including the breaking news last week. Jaime Ben suffered a collapsed lung on Tuesday night in that 3-2 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild and will be out at least four weeks. The first big blow injury-wise to the Dallas Stars during training camp and already slim left-wing group we’ve talked about over the summer and coming into this season takes a major hit. And how is that going to affect the Dallas Stars opening night roster? We’ll get into that as more roster moves have been made over the weekend and stars thoughts. Robert Tiffen put out an article on a power play that continues to be a work in progress and what we can expect to see from Glenn Gooson and Neil Graham in 2025 and of course 26 as well. So, let’s jump right in to the Jamie Ben news. And normally I I would not have thought this was going to be as as big of a deal maybe a couple years ago when you had Marchment and Donov who could at least slide up the lineup. But after the departures of Ddonov and Marchment, this is significant news to the Dallas Stars and maybe it’ll be a blessing in disguise. some some younger guys can make an impression and make an impact and possibly make the opening night roster, but he’s out four weeks. More than likely, it feels like he isn’t going to return until beginning of November, maybe middle of November, hopefully before Thanksgiving break. But he suffered that collapsed lung Jim Nielset in the last exhibition game against Minnesota. Of course, this was last Tuesday. Late in the third period, Jaime took a hit that collapsed his lung. Stars GM Jim Niels said Thursday he will be re-evaluated after four weeks. He can’t fly for four weeks, but we do expect a full recovery. First off, I I want to send well wishes to Jamie Ben in a in a speedy recovery. I can imagine that’s a bit frightening and and scary as well. Uh I I didn’t see the the collision or hit in that preseason game specifically that may have caused the issue, but nil said Ben went to the bench and said he didn’t feel good after a late shift. The trauma doctors x-rayed him at the AAC and found a hole in his lung. He went to Parkland Hospital for observation and they decided on surgery. That first off is really really scary. So I I’m glad he was taken care of. Uh great work by the doctors there at the AAC. Um there’s a reason they have them there. Recall what even maybe more than 20 years ago that that was not the case. Um if if I’m uh if I’m not mistaken um that’s actually probably more recent than than we think that doctors are actually placed there. So uh great great job by the medical staff to take care of him. And um it is nice that he’s going to make a a full recovery. But this does affect Dallas. I think there was real thoughts of of Jamie Bin playing in your top six, whether that was going to be with Deshaine H and Sean. Perhaps he he plays with Wyatt still, maybe they throw him with uh Bour, right? I I think he um was going to be a pretty important piece, especially early on for Glenn Gooson. The leadership aspect, I think, really is big here. He is still the Dallas Stars captain and with this new transition of Gulitson and a new coaching staff um outside of Nazerdine, of course, Ben could lead the charge on the ice, off the ice, sending that message, the the report, the relationship with Gulletson. I bet Gooson was relying heavily on on Ben to help send the message, to help deliver the message, whether that’s physically on the ice, whether that’s verbally inside the dressing room. So, that aspect I I think is going to have an impact um on the stars. And whatever you think of Jamie Ben as a player at this point in his career, right, he’s 36. He he certainly still is the the the heartbeat o of the the stars. At least in my opinion, he he still is the heartbeat for Dallas. And that leadership cannot be filled um in that in the dressing room uh via one guy. Uh but the good thing is they do have a lot of veterans, right? They have Duchain, they have Sean, Meiro’s a veteran. I think he can step up, be a leader. Mo Rancin. So these guys now really have to step up. Now it affects Dallas just uh on the ice as well because well that’s one less body and now Sam Steel is your your second line center and that is not ideal. I love Sam Steel but that’s not ideal. Oscar Beck has to move up. Nathan Bastion now was a guy we were talking about well maybe he’s battling with Blackwell for some games here and there. Now he is fully inserted in your he is your your 12th guy. Actually more like your 11th forward now. Not not a 12 or 13th. He’s more like your 11th. Blackwell becomes your 12th. And now it does lead to the opportunity for some younger players to actually make this roster. This sort of goes back to the conversation we had for a large chunk of the summer before they added Bastion in Foxa. What about a Ritzcoian? What about an R2 Huru who looked really good the other night in the last preseason game? There’s only two preseason games remaining this season. And it looks like after the moves made today, which we’ll get to, there are three guys that are sort of fighting to be that 13th forward. Now, your bottom six really does become a skating, not not skating, more of a a physical, your fourth line especially is physical energy. uh spend more time away from your Dzone more than anything. Uh you’re not going to get a lot of scoring. Like the Stars may have tough time scoring, especially if their big guns aren’t executing. It it can be pretty tough in a hurry. Um and it’s not like uh you know, Jamime Ben you were filling him in or penciling him in for you know 25 30 goals, but he’s still going to be a pretty key cog. uh this year with some of the departures and you were gonna need him to maybe refine some form and try to squeeze out whatever juice he has left in those legs. So, you’re looking at a left wing group. Now, it’s Robertson. I mean, and there is a pretty big gap between Robertson and and Steel. And then you have Oscar Beck and Bastion. So, now now Beck is going to be asked to to elevate. He’s going to have to to play in a higher role. I am curious. I know Blackwell’s 32, but Blackwell has in the past played up in the lineup. We talked about this a couple years ago when they signed him last summer. I I suppose in New York, he played with Paneran a bit. He played on a uh more scoring line than a bottom six role. So maybe there’s an opportunity for him to jump now. Now, now Maverick Bourke really really needs to have a big year. And he looked really good the other night. in in the in the preseason game. Uh which is is really good to see. He seems more comfortable and and the confidence right confidence with the puck. The the Stars can weather this storm. They can. I think they will, but it could be a bit of a roller coaster, which probably should be expected. It’s the Dallas Stars. They like to keep things entertaining. they can weather the storm because of Maverick Bourke and the step he should take this season. I just I feel it coming. I have the the inclination this is going to be a big year for 22. They will be able to weather the storm because of guys like Maverick Bourke, Sam Steel especially. I love Sam Steel and I I know he ideally on a championship roster, a Stanley Cup champion, he’s at most your fringe third line winger, third line center. I I think that’s fair to say. Ideally, you want to be on your fourth line. It’s a a great great piece, but he has shown the ability in the past. He can score. I think you can give him I think you can ask 15 20 goals out of him this year. let’s say 15 um sort of around that range. Um and he’s going to get an opportunity now to to step up and play with with a Duchine more than likely with even a Wyatt Johnston. That opportunity is going to come. You can move Bor around whether that’s wing center Johnston as well. But your your your bottom six is certainly going to be I think or your your your fourth line especially like that’s going to be checking physicality line. Um and and for the most part there’s going to be some guys that are playing in uncomfortable spots. I I think that’s for certain. And um the good news is they have enough I think guys that are versatile enough to get the job done. It may not look pretty at times and there may be a lot of line shuffling, especially early on to figure out combinations, but it it really is a big blow in a lot of ways. Maybe uh not as big of a blow if if we knew this three months ago, but um w with sort of how the the Stars roster was taking shape, you’re like, “Okay, this stinks of course, but I think they can weather it. It’s going to be tough.” Uh, but there’s they’re going to have to ask guys to play in some uncomfortable positions. It feels like to me. And it will um and maybe that’s okay. Maybe this is a blessing for Dallas because now you can be like, “Okay, Bor, like we’re going to find out if if if you’re going to make the jump. We’re going to really find out if you’ve improved.” And um speaking of those three names I mentioned that we thought were basically just pencil in to be in the AHL after this now really fighting for position after the roster moves made over the weekend. Let’s talk about that and how the Stars roster is becoming more clear with just a couple preseason games remaining. We’ll do that in just a moment. Today’s episode of Locked on Stars is brought to you by FanDuel. 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The Dallas Stars announced these roster moves over the weekend. A large chunk of players have been loaned back to Texas, released from ATO or released from their PTO. So, we’re going to go all uh through these as well, just to give you an idea. So, loan to Texas, you have Aruri, uh, Tristan Bertuchi, Justin Erle, Emil Hemming, Ben Cross, Christian, Christian Kyu, Mdell, Martino, Punet, Scott Simoff, Trey Taylor, Tency, and Gavin White. released from the ATO, you had Tommy Bergs, Sean Chisum, uh Aiden Hershuk, Ardum Schlane, and then released from the PTO, you had Becker, you had Bibu, uh you had uh Hanus, uh Karu Loft, uh Curtis McKenzie, and Caleb Piercing. Now, uh there was some uh waivers um or players that were put up on on waivers as well. uh Kyle Kappa Bienko, Cole Lind, and Antonio Strangeas. So those are three players that are put up on waiverss. If they do clear, um they will go to Texas and they were three key pieces to the Texas Stars last year. And um that means a couple things. probably means they weren’t seriously uh they weren’t seriously uh fighting for a roster spot or competing um for one. Uh so that that is um something you can take note out of out of them being put on uh on waiverss. So we’ll see if they clear, but um if not, they will return um to Texas. And as I said, those are some pretty key pieces. So we’ll see how that all shakes out in the in the next uh couple of days. But really, it’s the players that are still on the roster that is pretty intriguing. So, you have the 16 forwards. Um, you have eight defensemen and three goalies. So, you still have a couple of cuts to make uh to knock it down to the 23 uh man roster. But the three names that are still uh in camp and going to be essentially fighting for that 13th spot, R2u, Justin Ritzovian, and Adam Ernie. Ernie has, I think, done a lot of good for himself. Uh, this camp. He is He’s strong. I think he he’s more physical than Ahuru or or Ritscovian. I’m intrigued with Rscovian because with Jamie Bin especially now out, it feels like you’re gonna you’re gonna need some help scoring wise and Ritzovian fits that profile more than Ernie or maybe even Arturu. Uh Ernie, he is uh you know 30 uh years of age. Um he came over from Red W from the Red Wings. He played for the uh Hartford uh Wolfpack uh last season. Um he again more of a uh you know bottom six uh grinder uh physicality guy. Ritzcoian on the other hand uh can provide some more offensive pop and why I think he’s probably going to have an edge over some others and he’s had a better camp. um and he’s just I think had a better uh overall preseason um than than the other two. Ritzcoian of course he was signed out of the NCAA’s a couple years ago. Um he did play five in NHL games last year. He had 60 points in 67 games for the Texas Stars in the AHL including 22 goals. The Stars I think are going to need some of that. What whatever he can give them uh I think they’re going to want. Huru I really enjoyed last year. Um he was a guy that I would have uh I think coming into the year I think I’m on the record of saying I mean I really like him and I could see him you know getting some action. Um of course he played five NHL games um as well when the Stars ran into some is injury issues. Um, and I think Blackwell, you know, at 32, you don’t want Blackwell playing, I think, I don’t think you want Blackwell playing 70 games. I I really don’t. Uh, you’re going to want to give him some rest, keep him fresh because he does have that energy. Maybe I’m selling him short, too. Maybe that’s unfair because I do like Blackwell, but I I think ideally if you can give him some rest and you can throw in some guys with fresh legs, this is why I think this may be a blessing. get some younger guys and and some new blood in there can give you a pep. Guys that got to work hard. Huru last year 49 points, 24 goals in 67 games with the Texas stars last year. So Huru and Ritzkco are more of your uh your your contributing or productive types uh I should say. Uh Ernie has looked good. I have liked his game. He has shown some skill in there. He does have experience. um he he’s 30, so I would think he is more your safe, reliable option uh than maybe Ritzcoian or Huru who are still young. But as we’ve seen in the past, these young guys like they come in, they they get it. Uh they get it. They they they’re confident. They know um how to play the proper way. And I I think if you’re Dallas, you’re going to give the edge to to Ahuru or Ritzcovian if you ask me. Um on Stars thoughts, uh Robert Tiffen says Ritzcovian appears to him at least to have a tiny lead in the race, but these decisions can sometimes involve a lot of factors. Um, and this is a great point, like who benefits more from playing regularly in the NHL versus getting scratched in Texas or even whose salary might help Dallas get closer to the salary cap ceiling before putting Jamie Ben on the LTIR. So, it can get a bit complicated. Says um here, uh, he was Goldson was asked about Huru said, “I thought through camp he’s gotten better and better. Uh, I thought last night was uh, even his strongest game just with all the penalty kills and even the offense he created. You can see he’s getting a little bit more comfortable. You know, even today, I look at the little things. Look at today’s practice. He had a good practice. He looked sharp today. Um, so, uh, there there’s going to be a real fight. Um, when it talks about who’s going to benefit more from playing the AHL versus being scratched, it’s curious to me. Um h that that’s that’s a tough one. Uh Huru was undrafted, right? He’s 24. Ritzcovian, he’s 24. Ernie’s 30. So uh of course when you look at Ernie, you think, well, he’s 30. Um he maybe, you know, fits better as a guy that you can keep in the press box more often than not, right? That’s that I think right when you when you talk about when you frame it from that way that seems like he would be uh more beneficial as a guy that’s you know a a press box scratch um than playing every day. But when you lose a guy like Ben who I think you know ideally you were hoping was going to give you some offense this year. If you can replace that with the RScovian who I really like. He’s a left shot too. I think that helps. Um, you know, Ernie is, uh, a left shot, Crew is righty, so that may complicate some things, too. Um, so it’s really fascinating, but those three guys really have to keep an eye on these next two preseason games. Um, they’re going to be huge and I think ultimately decide who’s going to make the opening night roster. So, that is something to keep an eye on with the Ben injury and now these roster moves that have been made. So, we uh touched on some of that. Thank you to Robert Tiffen as always. I did want to touch on something else he talked about in this article uh article specifically in the power play and a work in progress and what we continue to know and continue to see throughout training camp. So, we’ll do that in just a moment. So, I’ve said I think it’s time that Thomas Harley takes over as the quarterback on the number one power play for for Dallas. And it’s not a knock against Miro Hastinan at all. I just believe Harley as a shooter and goalc scoring threat will benefit Dallas more than Mero at this point. And Mero we know can rack up the points on the power play he did a couple years ago. He is still a fantastic player. He is the overall the Stars best player. But I think the Stars benefit more from Harley on the power play than Miro at this point just based off how they play the game. They play the game differently and that’s good. The Stars don’t want two Mirrors. They don’t want two Harleys. Um they’re they’re they’re great at what they do. They have different skill sets and um I would love to see Harley sort of take over um the reigns. Um but um uh we we’ve seen some more uh some more units um at practice uh the other day. Meera Hasten was running the top power play with Ranton and Robertson Hinton Johnston while Harley was uh back running the second unit, a group that saw Steel drawing in for Ben, of course. And then Sean, Duchain, and Bourke were on that as well. Bour with the power play goal the other night. Um, uh, Goldson said, “I’m sure we’ll continue, uh, to see both QBs, um, get looks here.” Um, of course, that road hockey, uh, uh, road hockey approach that Goldson has, he said, after practice, basically, you’re trying to create looks and then let them make plays. That’s what you’re trying to do. U, put the opposition in a position where they have one or two options, uh, two options and then just let them make a play. Now, with steel, uh, that’s fascinating. It it it makes sense with with Ben now out. Um Steel would kind of check in. I remember every once in a while you’d see him on there. I know in Garbage Time or games are out of hand, you would see him, but I I feel like every so often they would kind of throw Steel on the power play under Dbor if if they were really struggling. I think sometimes he would get some looks. Um and um he he you know steel I think um is actually not a terrible option just because of his speed. Um he he can help um on injuries. Um he is a left shot so I think he can pair well with a guy like Duchain for the most part. I feel like he does a lot of his work kind of from the the right side. Um especially on upon entries he carries in. He’s more of a playmaker. um still can be your netfront guy too, especially if he’s uh replacing Ben. I I think he can succeed in a role um like like that if you had to put him um netfront. So, it looks like he’s going to get a shot there. Um and it says last year uh this is from Stars Thought. Steel only had 13 minutes of power play time across his 79 games last season, but um if he’s ever going to become a double digit goal scorer in Dallas, this year would seem like the chance to do so. And and that’s sort of where I was going with earlier. I think he could get 15 goals and now in a spot where they may need him to to do that um or at least they may need him to to score here. 15 goals I think is is right on the table. So I I’m really looking forward to to still getting this chance um and seeing how it all sort of plays out. I think the Stars are in a decent spot to handle this. At least it’s not Jason Robertson, right? Um, and I don’t want to diminish the impact of losing Jaime Ben, but I don’t think we came in here thinking Jaime was even gonna I mean, we like hopefully in a phenomenal world, um, he was going to sniff around 20. Uh, like just based off what we saw towards the end of last year, um, he’s not getting any younger. Uh, if if he was sniffing around 20 goals, like that’d be awesome because he had 16 last year. Um, and his numbers have slowly dipped. Um, dating back to a couple years ago, they’ve slowly dipped. So, if he even gave you 16, you’d be like, “Okay, that’s pretty decent.” Chipped in a bit on the power play. Well, now it’s time for Steel, who’s a bit younger, to get that opportunity. Um, and and and fill that uh to fill that void. Of course, a totally different player than than Jamie Ben. Uh, but um he’s going to have a shot to to play some big minutes now. So, um this is this is going to be um a real chore I think early on just because it came a little bit late here in camp. Um they do have a couple preseason games which is really good just to kind of go out there maybe on their final preseason game against uh Colorado on the fourth um at home they’ll put together a lineup that pretty much resembles opening night um just so they can get a taste of some of these line combinations because it is kind of late and now you’re going to have to try to mix some things on the fly and you’re going to have some guys playing I think in some uncomfortable roles. and playing with some guys they haven’t played with before. They don’t have a ton of minutes with. So, Goldston’s going to have his work cut out for him. And uh it’s uh it’s it’s going to be massive that the uh that the Stars figure out some sort of stability just going into opening night. Um just to have a really really strong idea, have a plan, right? An approach. I think more important than anything, um it doesn’t all have to click right away, but they need to go in with a mindset and I think an approach. This is how we’re going to attack it. That way, we’re ready because this first month and a half is going to be really important for Dallas. They’re playing really good teams. We’ve talked about it and Ben, I mean, best case scenario, I I think first week of November is best case. Remember, four weeks. Um this is from what last Tuesday. So the 23rd. So Tuesday would be the the first week. Uh second, third, fourth. So you know, I think best case best case Halloweenish. That’s best case. Um and and hopefully he uh recovers well. Um and he’s he’s fully ready to rock and roll. But then I think you also have to take into account started ramping up again. Ben’s older. he’s not going to come back as quickly as he has in years past path to some injuries. Uh he when you’re younger, it’s easier um to, you know, deal with an injury, can get back the rehab process and all that. Ben’s 36. This isn’t going to be easy just for him to walk on and you’re okay, he’s playing well again. Um they’re probably going to have to ease his his way back in. So that’s also something to factor in. So ideally, you’re probably, not ideally, keep overusing that word, but realistically, you’re probably not getting a fully, I guess, healthy Jaime Ben sort of in mid-season form until Thanksgiving is is how I would I would kind of see it after he’s re-evaluated. Maybe he’s good to go, maybe he’s not. Maybe it’s a couple weeks, but then once he starts to ramp, probably going to need 15 games and then until he’s back to to shape. And you have to also have to factor in a collapse on he can’t work out. Um this isn’t something where he can run um and and keep the the the legs moving, right? Like some upper body injuries where guys can continue to stay fresh, they can skate at least. This isn’t that uh of obviously with a collapsed line, he can’t be doing much. So I think you’re not looking till till Thanksgiving that you’re getting a full fully functioning Jamie Ben. So, um, yeah, uh, very, very, very big blow to to Dallas here, um, in the first big one on the injury front. So, wanted to hop on here, discuss that. Couple crazy travel days getting back here to Corbus. So, apologize for the last couple episodes at the end of the week, but wanted to get this one out there and, uh, we’ll be back sort of a normal schedule here for the upcoming week. So, thank you as always for the love and support. Uh, be sure to like, comment, subscribe. have a great rest of your Sunday night. Uh kick off uh Monday on a high note and we’ll see you on the next episode. So long, Stars fans.

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn is out for at least four weeks due to a collapsed lung suffered during a recent game. The injury occurred after Benn took a heavy hit and was later diagnosed, forcing him to miss significant playing time. This is a major blow to the Stars, as Benn is a veteran leader and key contributor on both ends of the ice. His absence will likely lead to increased roles for younger forwards and possibly roster moves or call-ups from the AHL. The coaching staff will need to adjust line combinations and special teams units to fill the leadership and production gap. The team’s resilience and depth will be tested as they push through this crucial stretch of the season without their captain.

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