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.

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