Montreal Canadiens Former Habs Defender Jordie Benn Lands PTO With Brother’s Team

The Montreal Canadiens acquired Jordie Benn in 2017 from the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline.

The Canadiens sent Greg Pateryn and a fourth round pick the other way as they wanted to add an experienced, rugged defenseman for the playoffs.

Benn turned out to be better than expected, carving out a top-four role and was one of just three defensemen on the Canadiens to be protected from the Vegas Golden Knights in that offseason’s expansion draft.

Benn played the next two seasons with the Canadiens, though he did not really keep his top-four status and mostly played on the third pairing. He did score 17 and then 22 points in those seasons, showing a bit more offense from the blue line than was originally expected.

He left the Habs and signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks, was traded near the end of that contract to the Winnipeg Jets (where he lost to the Canadiens in the second round of the 2021 playoffs) and then signed with the Minnesota Wild in 2021-22.

Benn played last season in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization but found himself on waivers and then sent to the minors. He totalled 12 NHL games, scoring one goal and two points and had six points in 23 AHL games with the Toronto Marlies.

The 6’2″ and 201 pound left defender can still play a physical, defensive style but he did not sign a contract in the first few weeks of free agency.

Yesterday, the 36 year old former Habs defenseman signed a professional tryout contract (PTO) with the Dallas Stars. Benn played the first seven pro seasons of his career in the Stars organization before being traded to the Canadiens.

Now, he will return to the team that originally gave the undrafted player a chance, and he will try to show them he can still help an NHL team. He will also be in training camp with his brother, Jamie, who is one of the best players to ever play for the Stars.

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