When we last left the Jamie Benn contract, the Dallas Stars were struggling to get the restricted free agent center signed to a new contract before the expiration of the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement on Sept. 15.

Now that the lockout has been settled, the same situation still exists with the start of a short training camp and abbreviated regular season looming by Jan. 19. There have also been a few new wrinkles thrown in for good measure in the form of a new maximum contract length (eight-season max in a case like Benn's) and the salary variance rule.

The Stars had hoped to get Benn re-signed to a intermediate (two-year or three-year) length extension similar to what the team gave Loui Eriksson back in 2008-09. It appears that Benn is looking for a longer, and higher-paying commitment. Shortly before the lockout, the Edmonton Oilers signed Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle to respective seven-year and six-year extensions that will carry $6 million cap hits.

When all is said and done, I think Benn is going to get something similar. He is still a few seasons away from qualifying for unrestricted free agent status, and there is risk involved any time a team pays based on anticipated future production. Benn has played at a high level for sustained stretches the last two seasons, but also has been prone to some cold streaks that go on a little longer than one would hope see from a team's most important player.

The Stars, like all NHL teams, are prohibited from re-opening negotiations with free agents until the CBA is officially ratified. I believe that a new deal for Benn will be done by the start of the regular season. However, it might be tricky to get it done in time for the start of training camp given that there was still a gap between the two sides prior to the lockout.

Fortunately, Benn won't really need much of an NHL camp to be ready to play. He already knows Glen Gulutzan's system and he played 19 matches in the DEL to stay in game shape (producing seven goals and 20 points, which is of little to no importance at this point).

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