Jamie Benn will miss the start of the season for the Dallas Stars because of a collapsed lung.
The forward had surgery Thursday and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
Benn was diagnosed with the injury in the third period of a 3-2 preseason overtime win against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
“He came to the bench and said something didn’t feel right,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “Our trauma doctors took him and did an X-ray right away. They did a great job. They found just a small hole and took him to Parkland [Hospital]. It wasn’t a big hit or anything, it was turned in to protect the puck and the guy came in from behind. It was almost kind of a fluke.”
The 36-year-old Stars captain had 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) in 80 regular-season games last season and three points (one goal, two assists) in 18 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
“For four weeks he’s shut down,” Nill said. “He’s not allowed to travel because of the pressure to the lungs, so no air travel. They expect it to be close to healing for contact after four weeks and we’ll see after that.”
A fifth-round pick (No. 129) by Dallas in the 2007 NHL Draft, Benn has 956 points (399 goals, 557 assists) in 1,192 regular-season games and 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) in 120 playoff games.
Dallas opens the regular season at the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 9.
“It’s part of the game. Players are going to get injured and you have to deal with it,” Nill said. “It’s an opportunity for someone else. Jamie is a big part of the team as a captain, but we’ll be okay. We’ve got a good group. It doesn’t mean he won’t be around, he’ll be in the dressing room and around still. I’m not too worried right now about [our leadership].”
NHL.com independent correspondent Taylor Baird contributed to this report
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