Seattle Kraken lock up star forward Matty Beniers to massive contract
The Seattle Kraken have officially signed Matty Beniers to a long-term contract according to reports.
On Tuesday, Beniers agreed to a seven-year contract worth just under $50 million, averaging $7.14 million per season.
Both Beniers and the Kraken had made it clear that they expected to finalize this contract before training camp, which starts on September 18, ahead of the season opener on October 8. Seattle fans, who quickly embraced Beniers when he debuted late in the inaugural season scoring points in nine of his first ten NHL games, are thrilled. His win of the 2022-23 Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie only boosted his popularity, with many fans donning jerseys featuring Beniers' No. 10.
In his rookie season, Beniers scored 24 goals and 33 assists, impressing with his skill in all areas of the game and his willingness to support the defense. His all-around play showed extraordinary maturity for a 21-year-old, leading some rival scouts to suggest that Beniers could be a future contender for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward.
Though his sophomore season saw a dip in production with 15 goals and 22 assists, Beniers' play remained strong, especially in the latter half of the season, matching his rookie pace.
GM Ron Francis, who ranks second all-time in NHL assists (behind only Wayne Gretzky) and is a Selke Trophy winner himself, recognized Beniers' potential early on. Francis first noticed Beniers' 200-foot game when he was playing for the U.S. National Development Program's U17 team. When Beniers was available as the second overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Francis was thrilled to make him the Kraken's first-ever draft choice.
Credit: NHL.comKraken, Beniers Agree on Next Contract
| POLL | ||
20 AOUT | 44 ANSWERS Seattle Kraken lock up star forward Matty Beniers to massive contract Do you think this is a good deal for Seattle Kraken forward Matty Beniers? | ||
| Yes | 25 | 56.8 % |
| No, he's worth more | 4 | 9.1 % |
| No, that's overpayment | 15 | 34.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
