Veteran forward Jamie Benn signed a one-year contract as the franchise continues to lean on its experienced core (Image Source: Getty Images)The Dallas Stars have recently signed veteran forward Jamie Benn to a one-year contract as the franchise continues to move forward towards their upcoming 2026-27 campaign. The club has ensured that its longtime captain will now remain in Dallas for another season. The deal keeps Benn with the only NHL team he has ever played for, extending his remarkable tenure into the 18th season. According to multiple reports, the contract carries an $850,000 salary, with an AAV of $2 million. It is to be noted that Benn has played all 17 seasons of his NHL career with the Stars, the team that took him in the fifth round, 129th overall, of the 2007 draft.Veteran forward Jamie Benn signs a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars for the upcoming 2026-27 campaignVeteran forward Jamie Benn has rejoined the Dallas Stars for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. Benn will continue his tenure with the Stars as he will now enter his 18th season. The contract has a salary of $850,000, with an AAV of $2 million.As reported by Daily Faceoff, the contract's higher potential annual value is largely driven by $1.15 million in performance bonuses. Benn will earn $200,000 each for reaching 10, 20, and 40 games played. He is also set to receive $150,000 if the Stars secure a Stanley Cup Playoff berth, with an additional $100,000 awarded for every playoff round the team advances.Financial CategoryAlex OvechkinAnnual contract$850,000 millionGames-played bonus$3 millionPerformance bonus$2 millionAnnual Average Salary$2 millionThis marks the second consecutive season Benn has signed a bonus-heavy contract. Last year, his deal carried a $1 million cap hit and included up to $3 million in performance bonuses. He ultimately earned an extra $2 million after appearing in 60 regular-season games.Earlier, Benn had endured a challenging 2025-26 season after injuries limited him to 62 games. As per reports, he finished with 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points, marking the first time in a full 82-game season that he failed to reach the 40-point plateau in his NHL career. Despite the decline in his offensive production, the veteran managed to secure one of the league's best regular-season records. Besides, he ranked second in franchise history, and across his 17 seasons, Benn has played 1,252 games, scoring 414 goals and 992 points, while sitting third in assists (578).Although Dallas entered the playoffs with high expectations, the team was knocked out in the first round by the Minnesota Wild in six games. During the series, Jamie Benn was unable to contribute offensively, finishing without a goal or an assist. In addition to this, Benn has also been a consistent postseason performer, tallying 80 points in 126 playoff appearances, ranking third. With the new deal in place, Benn will have the opportunity to become one of the few players in NHL history to spend 18 consecutive seasons with a single franchise, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest players of the Dallas Stars franchise.