Daryl Reaugh, known for being somewhat of a human thesaurus as a color analyst for Dallas Stars telecasts on Bally Sports Southwest, has of course come up with a term to describe Jamie Benn‘s resurgent season.
“It’s the ‘Bennaissance,'” Reaugh said Wednesday on this week’s episode of the “NHL @TheRink” podcast. “We’re experiencing the Bennaissance here in Dallas right now.”
Reaugh joined co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke and spoke all about why Benn, at 33 years old and in his 14th NHL season, has turned back the clock this season.
The forward has 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 23 games after getting 46 points (18 goals, 28 assists) in 82 games last season.
Reaugh said a key is that Benn likes playing with Ty Dellandrea and Wyatt Johnston at even strength. He also mentioned Benn’s position on the Stars power play as being a difference.
Benn has 11 power-play points (four goals, seven assists) this season. He had 11 points (three goals, eight assists) last season.
“He was always just purely the netfront guy and he’s been moved into that middle spot,” Reaugh said. “I think he’s a little bit more of a creator out there rather than just being a guy screening, hacking or bludgeoning home a puck every now and then on the power play.”
Reaugh also talked at length about Stars forward Jason Robertsonwho entered Wednesday leading the League with 19 goals, including an NHL-high 15 at even strength, and was second in points with 36 (17 assists), behind Edmonton Oilers center. Connor McDavid (39; 22 goals, 17 assists). He was also second in even-strength points with 24 (nine assists), behind Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (26 points; 11 goals, 15 assists).
“He is very unassuming and then at the end of every night he’s on the sheet, a lot of nights its multiple, most nights it’s a goal,” Reaugh said. “There’s not this exaggerated flash and panache out of him, and yet if you just watch him and you slam together like we do on television for little packages and you put it all together you’re like, my God, he’s an incredibly smart and slippery offensive talent. You know the other side is all game-planning for him and yet he, along with his linemates, there’s just fabulous chemistry with the three of them, they just find a way to produce game in and game out.
“… I don’t know where the ceiling is for him if he’s going to keep doing this. He’s like AI, he’s artificial intelligence.”
There’s a lot more with Reaugh on the Stars and their style of play under new coach Peter DeBoer, comparing defenseman Miro Heiskanen to Nicklas Lidstrom and why forward Roope Hintz is vitally important to them.
In addition, Rosen and Roarke talked about Kris Letangthe Penguins defenseman who is out indefinitely after having a stroke Monday, why the word perseverance should be associated with him and how Pittsburgh might handle his absence.
The co-hosts also discussed the issues plaguing the New York Rangers, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ success and Toronto forward. Mitchell Marner‘s point streak, the latest on Alex Ovechkin‘s chase for Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record and favorites for NHL postseason awards.
The “NHL @TheRink” podcast is free, and listeners can subscribe on all podcast platforms. It is also available on NHL.com/multimedia/podcasts and the NHL app.
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