The Seattle Kraken finalized an extension with Matty Beniers, one of the NHL’s top young talents, on Tuesday. The team announced a seven-year, $50 million contract with the 2023 Calder Trophy recipient worth $7.143 million per season.
The 21-year-old, Massachusetts native was a restricted free agent this summer and will now be the Kraken’s highest-paid forward.
Beniers got the extension despite taking a step back in his sophomore season, notching only 37 points (15g, 22a) in 77 games. The year before, Beniers tallied 57 points (24g, 33a) in 80 games during his rookie 2022-23 season.
Beniers’ new deal delivers him a raise of over $6.2 million after his entry-level contract expired in July.
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
The new contract will see Beniers signed through the 2030-31 season when he will become an unrestricted free agent at 28 years old. He joins Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour as the lone Kraken players signed through the next seven seasons.
Beniers has played parts of three seasons with Seattle after spending two years with the University of Michigan in the NCAA. He was the Kraken’s inaugural first-round draft selection, going second overall in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Beniers 7 year $7.143M Cap Hit Deal
Yr 1 $2.15M Salary & 5M Signing Bonus
Yr 2 $2.15M Salary & 5M SB
Years 2-6 $7.15M Salary
Year 7 $7M SalaryCovers 2 UFA years. Will be 28 on expiry.
Rep’d by Pat Brisson @CAAHockey https://t.co/HMxwSFrbIg
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 20, 2024
Seattle finished sixth in the Pacific Division last year and missed the playoffs a year after winning their first-ever playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche in 2023. The team’s head coach, Dave Hakstol, was fired and replaced by Dan Bylsma, who led the franchise’s AHL squad, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, to two straight Calder Cup Finals appearances.
The Kraken also hired Jessica Campbell, an assistant coach with the Firebirds for the last two seasons. Campbell will be the first woman to ever take up a position behind an NHL team’s bench.
