After a long-awaited month and a half of free agency and a very busy hockey day, the Seattle Kraken announced on Tuesday afternoon that they re-signed Matty Beniers.
Matty is a 21-year-old center with a left-hand shot. He was drafted second overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He attended the University of Michigan, where he played 61 games over two seasons. He totaled 67 points (30 goals, 37 assists.) He has also played for the USA U17, USA U18, USA U20, and USA teams in the World Junior Classic, World Classic, and Olympic Games.
Matty won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2023 as the NHL’s top rookie and earned the 2022-23 All-Rookie Honors after leading all rookies with 24 goals, 57 points, and 46 even-strength points. He is one of two skaters from the 2021 draft class that have reached the 100-point mark with a recorded 103 points (42 goals, 61 assists.) He is also the first draft pick in Kraken history to sign an extension.
During the 2023-24 season Beniers put up 37 points over 77 games (15 goals, 22 assists) hitting a bit of the ever-present sophomore slump. During the 2022-23 season he played in 80 games with a total of 57 points (24 goals, 33 assists.)
Matty has been a core part of our team since making his NHL debut, not only on the ice, but in his commitment to our community and our fans. Signing Matty to a contract was a top priority for our off-season, and we are excited to have it done. We’re looking forward to seeing Matty take the next steps as a player and watching him contribute to many more memorable moments for our franchise.”
General Manager Ron Francis on Matty Beniers
Matty Beniers signed a seven-year, $7.1M AAV contract, leaving the Kraken with just over $4K in cap space.
ITR 31: Let Them Fight – Inside The Rink
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