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Stars sign Jamie Benn to eight-year, $76M extension (Updated)

Jamie Benn

Fans celebrate along with Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) after a score by Benn in the first period of Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series game, Monday, April 21, 2014, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AP

Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill was confident Jamie Benn would sign a long-term contract with the club this summer. On Friday, the two sides put pen to paper, making it a deal.

The Stars signed Benn to an eight-year contract extension, worth a total value of $76 million or an average annual value of $9.5 million. His new deal kicks in for the 2017-18 season.

That’s a substantial raise from the $5.25 million he was making annually with his current contract, which expires at the end of next season.

As of right now, the Stars have $22.75 million in cap space dedicated to forwards Benn, Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza for the 2017-18 season.

“Jamie has evolved into one of the most complete players in the NHL and his ability to lead our team is second-to-none,” said Nill in a statement.

“He impacts the game in so many ways and this signing was extremely important for the direction of the franchise. He’s shown in the playoffs, and at international events like the Olympics and the World Championship, that he is up to any challenge and that his fingerprints will be left on every game. He’s our leader and does things the right way, every day.”

Not bad for a player taken in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL Draft.

Since entering the league in 2009, Benn has become a dynamic offensive player for the Stars, a team that plays a high-flying offensive style.

He scored 41 goals and 89 points this season, finishing second behind Patrick Kane in the latter category.

The Stars finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference, eventually making it to Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs.

Only once in his NHL career has the 26-year-old Benn not hit the 20-goal mark in a season. That was during the lockout-shortened campaign. Since then, he’s had three straight seasons where he’s broken the 30-goal plateau, getting over 40 last season.

Playing alongside Tyler Seguin certainly helps, as the two have dominated puck possession when on the ice together at five-on-five, as per numbers from stats.hockeyanalysis.com.

Related: World Cup in question? Jamie Benn faces six-week rehab after surgery