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The Seattle Kraken have signed forward Matty Beniers to a seven-year contract that carries an average annual value of $7.14 million, the club announced on Tuesday.
CHEERS FOR BENIERS!!!! 🙌
We’ve agreed to terms with forward Matty Beniers on a seven-year contract with 7.14M AAV. pic.twitter.com/Zi5XZhWWwH
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) August 20, 2024
Beniers, a restricted free agent and franchise cornerstone, was coming off his three-year, entry-level contract signed with the Kraken in April 2022.
“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,” said Kraken general manager Ron Francis in a release. “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 Kraken’s first-ever draft pick, selected with the No. 2 pick of the 2021 NHL Draft. The 21-year-old center won the Calder Trophy in 2022-23 as the league’s top rookie with 57 points in 80 games. In 167 career regular-season games with Seattle, Beniers has recorded a total of 42 goals and 103 points.
Why deal makes sense for Kraken
A seven-year deal for Beniers at $7.14 million a year on average may seem like a big swing on a player who slipped down to 37 points in 77 games last season, but it’s a good bet for the Kraken to make.
Beniers is a franchise cornerstone in Seattle, and he brings star power to the lineup which this roster craves. His second NHL season may not have featured as many high-octane offensive moments, but it did highlight his impact on the other end of the ice. Beniers’ ability to retrieve pucks and drive play out of the defensive zone with possession showed he has the makings to become a two-way star in this league. With a new-look coaching staff brought in to help bolster the Kraken’s offense that wilted last year, Beniers should bounce back on the scoresheet while continuing to build on his defensive game.
This signing comes in just ahead of Evolving-Hockey’s projection for this point in the offseason; their model forecasted a seven-year deal worth $6.7 million a year, on average. Had he signed this deal a bit sooner (in the first signing period of the offseason, between July 1 and 31st), it would have been right in line with their $7.1 million value for a seven-year deal.
With Beniers’ projected progression in mind, this deal should be cost-effective for the Kraken sooner rather than later. It’s a bit of a departure from Ron Francis’ tendencies both in Carolina and Seattle, but he has shown a willingness to go big recently. Signing Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour in free agency are prime examples. But this clicks with league trends in recent years, with more general managers investing in big second contracts. Those deals all come with risk because these up-and-coming players generally don’t have long track records to rely on. However, they tend to be worth the risk because these contracts bet on the prime of a player’s career and for future production versus past accomplishments.
Taking a swing now could save the team down the line, especially if Beniers had instead signed a bridge deal and went on to put up a couple of monster seasons. — Shayna Goldman, NHL staff writer
(Photo: Harry How / Getty Images)
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Courtesy : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5712799/2024/08/20/kraken-matty-beniers-extension/