Jamie Benn on World Cup readiness, new contract, 'mastermind' Jim Nill (Puck Daddy Q&A)
It was believed that Jamie Benn could take his game to a new level this summer.
The Dallas Stars’ captain spent last offseason rehabbing from two hip surgeries and still figured out a way to set career highs in points with 89 and goals with 41.
A healthy Benn meant an even more rigorous training schedule where he could continue his steady yearly improvements.
Unfortunately for Benn that never happened. He recently had surgery for an abdominal injury, which could keep him out of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey for Team Canada.
Benn had every reason to sulk, but instead he says the injury has made him more determined.
“It’s a little frustrating but it’s really what you do with that frustration and where you put all your energy,” Benn said. “I think I learned from last year to stay focused and these things take time.”
Benn is doggedly working to not just get ready for the 2016-17 season. He wants to make the World Cup to help deliver another international prize for Team Canada.
“I want to be there and play for Team Canada and the World Cup and that’s what I’m training for,” Benn said.
Benn’s attitude is of the ‘strong, silent type.’ He burns to win and improve, but you’d never know based on his humble, understated nature.
This is the type of tone the Dallas Stars wanted to set for their group by giving Benn, their captain, an eight-year $76 million contract extension this offseason that kicks in for 2017-18.
Also Dallas signed brother Jordie Benn to a three-year contract extension.
So really, the summer hasn’t been too difficult for Benn after all.
We caught up with Benn after a sign up event for the Stars’ Girls Rookie Program (if you look at the above and below photos, Benn really gets into the event) and to discuss his contract, his injury, the offseason moves from his team and his belief in the Stars’ two-goaltender system.
Q: What were the parties in the Benn household like with you and Jordie both signing multi-year contracts?
Benn: It was actually pretty tame. I think we were in Vegas for the awards when Jordie signed, so we got to have a nice family dinner in Vegas and then when I signed we just had a nice family dinner (in Victoria). It was pretty boring I guess you could say.
We actually went out for dinner to a nice restaurant and had a normal family dinner and a couple of cheers and that was it.
When you signed your contract and told your mom, did she think it was a prank? (Editor’s note: Benn famously pranked his mother on Valentine’s Day over a year ago with TSN’s Cabbie Richards. His mom then pranked him back)
No, she knew it wasn’t a prank. We had some chats before that. I definitely let them know how the negotiation was going. Once I signed the contract she knew it was the real deal and it was super happy for me.
But it is your turn to get her back, right?
Indeed, it is my turn to get her back. I think I need to think of something to do. Maybe Cabbie will come up with something but for now we will let her off the hook.
What do you think about some of the offseason moves (general manager) Jim Nill has made so far?
I think it’s tough losing some of the players we did but we also brought in a player like Dan Hamhuis who has a lot of experience and a lot of games played and been to a Stanley Cup Final. Our goal is to keep moving forward and build off last year. I felt we had a pretty good regular season. Obviously it didn’t get the result we wanted but hopefully we can go a little farther in playoffs this year.
Did you guys have issues that needed to be addressed in your mind?
You know what, I really don’t think there was too much to be addressed. Hockey is obviously a game where you lose players and can pick up players and that’s exactly what we did this summer. Our goal as players is to be ready to go for another season and try to build off last year. We have two great goalies. We have great defense and obviously a bunch of forwards who can score – so it’s putting it all together once again right from training camp and try to come out with a hot start.
Do you feel like your two goaltenders (Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi) and the two-goaltender system are both misunderstood? What do they mean to your team?
They’re very important to our hockey club. They’re two great goalies and they work well together. It was a first year for them to really split the minutes. I think they’ll be more comfortable with it this year. I’m sure they’re working hard this summer. I’ve been working out with Kari. His mindset has totally changed. He’s ready to go for next year. We had two goalies with 25-win seasons. Not a lot of teams can say that.
What do you mean that Kari’s mindset has changed?
He’s 100 percent more focused. He has worked really hard in the gym this summer and I think that’s going to pay off for him throughout the year. We obviously didn’t get the result we wanted and I think that has been a lot of motivation for him and hopefully for the rest of our players to come into next year with a more determined mindset and wanting to go further.
What’s it like playing in front of Antti Niemi or Kari when they’re fresh and your team is exhausted on the second part of a back-to-back? Jim Nill has touted that as a major attribute of the system.
It’s great for the players. You’re a little fatigued and when you have a number one goalie in there that’s fresh it makes you more confident.
You had surgery this summer. It’s now two summers in a row where you haven’t been healthy to train at 100 percent …
It’s a little frustrating but it’s really what you do with that frustration and where you put all your energy. I think I learned from last year to stay focused and these things take time. You have to keep moving forward and then the better you feel the more you can do so I’m doing that again this summer.
When did the injury happen? Was it while training? What can you do and what can’t you do?
It was a funny feeling I had during summer training and we dealt with that. We’re sticking to the rehabilitation program and getting better each and every day. I’m starting to ride the bike pretty good right now. I’m swimming. So I’m just taking care of my body and doing what I have to do to get back into shape quicker.
I think it’s just knowing your body and knowing what you have to do and how hard you have to go at certain times to get yourself ready. I learned a lot last year, I had a pretty slow start to the summer and got to pick it up near the end and into training camp. I’m going to do much of the same again this summer. We have a month and a bit left. That’s the plan is to focus and get ready for next year.
You signed that big, long-term contract. Was there ever a thought to test the open market? I’m sure every team in the league would have lined up for you.
I really didn’t think about it at all. I fell in love with the city of Dallas my first year and the first year I came down here. We’ve made some great changes and brought in a lot of great players to this hockey club that have really attracted me, and I have all the belief in Jim Nill. He was a big part of staying here. He’s a mastermind and we both have the same goal in mind. This is where I want to be and I want to play my whole career here in Dallas and there was never a thought of leaving.
You’ve got the World Cup coming up. What is the balancing act to be ready for that but not pushing yourself too much with your injury?
It’s definitely a little different but the mindset is – I want to be there and play for Team Canada and the World Cup and that’s what I’m training for. I’m working towards that goal. I’m training as if I’m going to be there and when the time comes, I’ll have to make that decision of if I’m going to play or not.
How has Team Canada been with you throughout this process?
They’ve been great. I had a chat with Doug Armstrong. We’ve gone over the plan. You can say there’s a (deadline) date (to be ready), but these things are tough to say right now. I think later in the summer I’ll know better. Just trying to feel better and work towards getting my body ready for hockey in September.
This is a big year for you guys, but you have a lot of players from the Stars in the World Cup. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? The tournament can be tiring.
It’s not really a concern. There are so many teams in this league in the same situation as we are. There is no advantage or disadvantage. For the players in the World Cup, I think you have to get your rest during the year when you can. It’s a long season so the rest will be really important.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
