The Kraken, entering their fourth season with the aim of consistently contending for the Stanley Cup, solidified their pursuit through their star player Matty Beniers. Beniers, who is the franchise’s most well-known and decorated prospect turned professional, confirmed his role in the team by finalizing a seven-year contract on Tuesday. The contract, worth just under $50 million over seven seasons, has an average annual value of $7.14 million.

“Since making his NHL debut, Matty has been an integral member of our team, both on the ice and in his dedication to our community and fans,” stated Ron Francis, General Manager of Seattle Kraken. “Securing Matty with a new contract was one of our main objectives this offseason, and we’re thrilled to have accomplished it. We’re eagerly anticipating Matty’s continued growth as a player and his contribution to creating more unforgettable moments for our franchise.”

Beniers and the Kraken have openly communicated to the press that they anticipated this contract to be finalized prior to training camp, which commences on Sept. 18, leading up to the team’s season and home-opener on Oct. 8. The announcement has been met with enthusiasm by everyone involved, including the Seattle supporters who quickly adopted the ex-University of Michigan star as a favorite following his late-season debut, in which he racked up points in nine of his first 10 NHL games. His achievement of winning the 2022-23 Calder Trophy for best NHL rookie only fueled more sales of Kraken merchandise featuring Beniers’ No. 10.

Beniers impressed in his rookie season, scoring 24 goals and contributing 33 assists. His skills were evident in all zones, and he willingly took on the role of the deep forward in the defensive zone.

Beniers’ exceptional performance in all areas of the 200-foot NHL ice rink last season demonstrated remarkable maturity for a 21-year-old, including improvement in the faceoff circle. His unnoticed efforts elicited suggestions from numerous rival scouts that the Kraken center could receive votes for the Selke Trophy, recognizing the league’s best defensive forward, in many future seasons.

In his sophomore season, Beniers racked up a total of 15 goals and 22 assists. Upon closer examination, his production in the latter half of the year was found to be more in line with the pace of his rookie season.

Francis, the GM of the Kraken, definitely speaks with credibility. With his record as the NHL’s second highest all-time assists leader (only surpassed by the universally acclaimed Wayne Gretzky) and being a Selke winner, he is well-versed in the challenges of excelling across all three zones. Francis recognized the potential in Beniers’ 200-foot game early on when the latter was playing U17 for the US National Development Program team. When Beniers became available as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Francis, an inductee to the Hall of Fame and current GM of the Kraken, was delighted to select Beniers as the Kraken’s inaugural draft pick.

“Francis expressed confidence in Matty’s game during a postseason media conference in April. He has no concerns about his long-term performance. “Matty will be a significant part of this organization for many years to come,” he stated.

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