Kraken and Beniers agree to long term extension

*Photo from the Everett Herald*

   According to Chris Johnston of TSN, the Seattle Kraken have signed center Matty Beniers to a 7 year, $49.98 million contract. The Kraken have confirmed the signing.

   Coming off winning the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year in 2022-2023, Beniers took a step back production wise last season, but the entire roster did as the Kraken missed the playoffs for the second time in 3 years as an organization. The biggest growth in Beniers' game was his faceoff ability, winning over 5 percent more of his draws last season as opposed to 2022-2023.

   Last season was still a respectable year for Beniers on the offensive side of things. He scored 15 goals and added 22 assists for 37 points, averaging 17:58 of ice time per game to go with a -11 rating in 77 games for the Kraken. Only one of his 15 goals stood as a game winner.

   Seattle GM Ron Francis said in a statement "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 new contract was a top priority for our offseason, 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."

   Beniers has already become the top line center for the Kraken as he enters just his 3rd full NHL season. In his rookie of the year campaign, the Kraken outscored opponents 63-41 and had 52.6 percent of the expected goals when Beniers was on the ice.

   He made his NHL debut at the tail end of the 2021-2022 season after his season at the University of Michigan ended in the frozen 4. In a 10 game sample to end the year, he had 3 goals and 6 assists, with two of his goals on the power play.

   Beniers, drafted second overall in 2021, is the first draft pick in Kraken history. In his two full seasons and part of a 3rd, he has 42 goals and 61 assists for 103 points to his name, posting a +2 rating while averaging 17:29 of ice time per game in 167 games. He has 3 goals and 4 assists to go with a +6 rating in 14 playoff games.

   With Beniers under contract for $7.14 million per year now, the Kraken have all their key pieces of business taken care of this offseason as they prepare for training camp and their 4th season as an NHL franchise.