The Dallas Stars kicked off their preseason with a bang, winning back-to-back exhibition games against the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild. With forwards Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson in top form, the franchise is looking strong ahead of the season.
However, despite their strong season-opener, an injury to captain Jamie Benn appears to have handed them an early setback. What started as a mere precaution to keep him off the ice is now reported to be much more serious, and the condition looks dire.
Stars’ Woes Continue As Captain Jamie Benn Is Set To Undergo Surgery
While the Stars won both of their preseason games, one name stood out with his absence as Benn was sidelined with an upper-body injury. The captain was initially pulled from the third period of their matchup against the Wild.
However, despite coach Glen Gulutzan expressing optimism that Benn would return soon, a late announcement from GM Jim Nill confirmed fans’ fears. Nill revealed that the forward will need surgery to address a collapsed lung.
The GM mentioned that Benn was diagnosed with the injury after he was pulled from the game. “He came to the bench and said something didn’t feel right. Our trauma doctors took him and did an X-ray right away. They did a great job,” Nill said.
He continued, “They found just a small hole and took him to Parkland [Hospital]. It wasn’t a big hit or anything; it was turned in to protect the puck, and the guy came in from behind. It was almost a fluke.”
With the severity of the injury, Benn will face travel restrictions.
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) September 25, 2025
“For four weeks he’s shut down,” Nill said. “He’s not allowed to travel because of the pressure on the lungs, so no air travel. They expect it to be close to healing for contact after four weeks, and we’ll see after that.”
Benn will be reevaluated after his recovery period, but this is a significant blow for the Stars. The forward was a key contributor last season, helping the team reach a third consecutive conference final with 49 points, including 16 goals and 33 assists in 80 games.
Estimates suggest that the Stars captain will miss the first seven games of the season. The situation is made worse by a tough early schedule, including five opponents who reached the playoffs last year and a season opener against the Winnipeg Jets.
If the projected timeline holds, the Stars expect Benn to return against the Carolina Hurricanes on October 25. However, while the injury has rung some alarm bells in Dallas, Nill assured fans that things will be alright.
“It’s part of the game. Players are going to get injured, and you have to deal with it,” Nill said. “It’s an opportunity for someone else. Jamie is a big part of the team as a captain, but we’ll be okay.”
He believes that Dallas has a good group, and while Benn might not be there on the ice, he will still be in the dressing room.
