Cage Match: Has Brad Marchand Surpassed Jamie Benn?

Has Brad Marchand surpassed Jamie Benn in terms of fantasy value?

Another rarity this week, as a marquee combatant – Jamie Benn – is someone I’ve never covered since I took over Cage Match several years ago. His opponent? Brad Marchand. Has the pendulum officially swung to Marchand being a better fantasy asset than Benn, who only three seasons ago was the Art Ross winner but now is in danger of finishing below the point-per-game mark for the second straight season? Let’s find out – Cage Match stats now!

Career Path and Contract Status

Benn, 28, wasn’t selected until 129th overall in 2007; but after 147 points in 107 WHL games over the next two seasons, he became a Stars regular for 2009-10. After a point-per-every-other-game rookie campaign, he tallied 153 points in 181 games in two injury-affected seasons plus lockout-shortened 2012-13. From there Benn only got better, first posting 79 points, then 87 to capture the Art Ross, then topping that with 89 in 2015-16. But last season he dipped to 69 points in 77 games, igniting concern that perhaps his rugged style of play may have led to him losing a step.

Marchand, 29, was drafted in 2006; and although snagged earlier than Benn (71st overall), his path to the NHL was longer, consisting of more than 100 AHL games before his first full season (2010-11) with the Bs. Until 2016-17, Marchand had an up-and-down NHL tenure, with 144 total points in 203 total games (58-point full season pace) sandwiched between a 41-point first season and 42 points as recently as 2014-15. But in 2015-16 he jumped to 61 points, only to follow that in spectacular fashion with 85 points in 80 games last season.

Both are signed through 2024-25; but Benn’s cap hit ($9.5M) per season is 50 percent more than Marchand’s ($6.125M), making this a one-sided match in cap leagues.

Ice Time (2017-18 stats in this and other tables are current through January 14 games)

Season	Total Ice Time per game (rank among team’s forwards)	PP Ice Time per game (rank among team’s forwards)	SH Ice Time per game (rank among team’s forwards)
2017-18	19:25 (J.B.) – 3rd 20:00 (B.M.) – 1st	3:00 (J.B.) – 3rd 3:04 (B.M.) – 3rd