In a blow to the Dallas Stars just days before the start of the 2025-26 NHL season, team captain Jamie Benn underwent surgery Thursday morning to repair a collapsed lung, sidelining the veteran forward for at least the next four weeks.
The injury occurred late in the third period of Tuesday’s preseason game against the Minnesota Wild, according to an announcement from general manager Jim Nill. Benn, 36, was diagnosed with the pneumothorax – a condition where air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing the lung to collapse – following the contest. Nill confirmed that Benn is expected to make a full recovery and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
This timeline means Benn will miss the Stars’ season opener on October 8 against the Nashville Predators, as well as at least the first four games of the regular season. If the recovery proceeds smoothly, he could potentially return as early as October 25 against the Carolina Hurricanes, though the Stars face a challenging early schedule that includes five matchups against playoff teams from last season in their first seven games.
Benn, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, is entering his 17th NHL season, all spent with the franchise that drafted him 129th overall in 2007. Over 1,192 career regular-season games, he has amassed 956 points (399 goals, 557 assists), establishing himself as one of the most durable and impactful players in Stars history. In the playoffs, Benn has contributed 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) across 120 games, including deep runs to the Western Conference Final in each of the past three postseasons.
Last year, Benn posted 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) in 80 games, showcasing his physicality with 114 hits, 45 blocked shots, and an average of 15:18 of ice time per night. Despite entering the final year of his eight-year contract, Benn re-signed with Dallas on June 26 on a team-friendly one-year deal worth $1 million base salary, plus up to $3 million in performance bonuses. Notably, four of those bonuses – $500,000 each – are tied to games played thresholds (20, 30, 50, and 60 games), which could impact his earnings depending on the length of his absence.
Prior to the injury, Benn had been centering the third line in preseason alongside linemates Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin, providing veteran leadership and stability to a squad aiming for a fourth straight Conference Final appearance. The Stars, who boast a young core including Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson, and Jake Oettinger, will now lean even more heavily on their depth up front while Benn recovers.
Teammates and coaches have long praised Benn’s leadership and resilience. As forward Matt Duchene noted during last spring’s playoffs, “You want to talk about immortal, statue-out-in-front-of-the-rink-type person and player and leader, that’s Jamie Benn. He bleeds green, and he’s going to go down as one of the greatest Dallas Stars to ever play for a long time.”
Internationally, Benn has represented Canada with distinction, earning gold medals at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championships and the 2014 Sochi Olympics. A two-time NHL All-Star, his commitment to the Stars – both on and off the ice – has made him a cornerstone of the franchise’s culture.
While the injury is a setback for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, the Stars’ depth and recent playoff success suggest they can weather the storm. Still, Benn’s absence will be felt in the locker room, where his presence as captain often sets the tone. As Dallas prepares for the grind ahead, all eyes will be on Benn’s swift return to the lineup, where his grit and experience will be needed more than ever.
