SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken agreed to a seven-year contract with center Matty Beniers on Tuesday that locks up the first draft pick in franchise history and former Calder Trophy winner through the 2030-31 season.
Beniers’ new deal will average $7.14 million per season and he becomes the first Seattle draft pick to sign a contract extension. Beniers was a restricted free agent.
“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,” Seattle general manager Ron Francis said. “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 was the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NHL draft and made his debut late in Seattle’s inaugural season. He flashed as one of the top young centers in the league during his first full season with the Kraken when he had 24 goals and 57 points and was selected as the top rookie in the league. Beniers helped lead Seattle to the playoffs in just its second season.
But Beniers took a step-back last season along with the rest of the Kraken lineup as scoring became a constant challenge for the team. Beniers had just 15 goals and 37 points, and had his shooting rate drop from 16.2% percent in 2022-23 to 11.3% last season.
