Dallas Stars' Jamie Benn (14) celebrates after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. Before Tyler Seguin joined the Dallas Stars, he watched video after video of Benn's goals. With two full seasons of experience setting Benn up, the rest of the NHL is watching them put on a show.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Chris O'MearaThe Associated Press
They have matching tattoos running all the way up their forearms in big, black letters.
Read in one direction, the tattoos spell "Forever." Read the other, they say "Brothers."
It's a good indication how close the Benn brothers are, and what a dream come true it's been for Jamie and Jordie to skate together with the Dallas Stars, one of the best teams in hockey so far this season.
It has also given Jordie, the elder Benn, a front-row seat as his little brother – a fifth-round pick who didn't even crack major-junior until he was 18 years old – evolves into one of the top players in the NHL.
He isn't surprised.
"Our family always knew he was good enough to be one of the best," said Jordie, who has settled into a role as a dependable third-pair defenceman. "It just took him some time to realize that he can.
"He's become an amazing player. I think he realizes that now. And now everyone can see it."
It's difficult to miss. The Dallas captain was named the NHL's first star of the month on Monday after leading the league with nine goals and 17 points in 11 October games. The feat is all the more amazing considering Benn is coming off dual hip surgeries in the off-season, and was a question mark for the Stars opening game only a few weeks ago.
He added to those totals on Monday night, too, scoring the Stars only goal in what became a surprising 4-1 loss to the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs, cooling the Stars otherwise hot start, a rare blemish on a season in which they've started 9-3-0.
Since the beginning of the 2013-14 season, when Dallas acquired Tyler Seguin from Boston, Benn now has accumulated more points – 184 in 175 games played – than everyone in the NHL not named Sidney Crosby.
And he's quickly gaining on the Penguins captain, given Crosby's well-documented struggles (five points in 11 games) to start this year.
Beyond the numbers, however, what has impressed many in the hockey world about Benn is his evolution into the face of a franchise. It isn't easy for him – the 26-year-old may well be the softest-spoken player in the league. And he clearly did not enjoy his time in the Toronto spotlight prior to Monday's game, when dozens of reporters crowded around his stall to hear him whisper a few short answers into microphones.
But his understated personality has been the perfect foil for the more flamboyant Seguin, and the right fit for a Stars team that has endured some dramatic ups and downs the past two seasons.
Big win or big loss, "Benny" is the same, every night.
"It was his dream to get to the NHL, but when he was named captain, it was such a special moment," explained Jordie, who's the more gregarious of the two and serves as Jamie's interpreter of sorts. "He doesn't show it. He's pretty quiet. But we all know. He's a leader. He works really hard – and he loves it."
"Benny's a lot more confident than he was in the past," Seguin added of his linemate's newfound ability to take over games at key times, as Benn did late against the Leafs when Dallas pressed hard.
The interesting side-story here, meanwhile, is his contract situation. While the league's rumour mongers continue to focus on Tampa's Steven Stamkos – an unrestricted free agent next July 1 – Benn has only one season beyond this one on his ultra-reasonable, $5.25-million-a-season contract.
If he wins the Rocket Richard Trophy or the Art Ross (again), along with taking the Stars on a playoff run, his asking price will be Stamkos-like, with teams desperate for talent – such as the Leafs – lining up for his services.
The kid who had to battle his way up from the Junior B Peninsula Panthers could even become the highest paid player in the game.