from the Dallas Morning News,

Mike Heika recently held a chat to talk all things Dallas Stars. Here are some highlights:

Question: Dirk has taken a lot of discounts here in Dallas. Do you think Jamie Benn would do the same to help bolster the roster?

Heika: This is going to be a very interesting negotiation, and Jim Nill will want to keep it all behind the scenes.

I think the Steven Stamkos signing in Tampa Bay opens the door for Jamie Benn to take a bit of a hometown discount. Stamkos probably could have commanded $11 million in free agency, but he took $8.5 million to stay in Tampa, citing no state tax and his desire to keep building a winning program. That set a precedent, and now it looks like everyone in Tampa is on board to take a little less.

Benn can do the same thing here. The cost of living is low, the value of the dollar is high, and he could take less in hopes of creating an environment where everyone is on a discount to make the team better. He's under no obligation to do so, but he can definitely help create a strong future in Dallas with this negotiation.

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