Seattle Kraken sign Matty Beniers to seven-year, $7.14 million AAV extension
As first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Seattle Kraken have signed Matty Beniers to a seven-year, $49.98 million extension that pays an average annual value (AAV) of $7.14 million.
Beniers notched 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in 77 games during the 2023-24 regular season.
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
Beniers was selected No. 2 overall in the 2021 NHL Draft and was Seattle’s first franchise draft pick. The Hingham, Massachusetts native emerged as a scoring threat during his rookie season in 2022-23, capturing the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Top Rookie with 24 goals and 33 assists for 57 points in 80 games. He added three goals and seven points in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff contests.
On a busy hockey day in August, hearing even more news:
Seattle is working on getting an extension done with 2023 Calder Trophy winner Matt Beniers. Sounds like it’s in the area of 7 x $7M, probably around $50M.
Important bit of business for the Kraken
In 167 regular season games, Beniers has racked up 42 goals and 61 assists for 103 points. Beniers is one of two players from his draft class to reach the 100-point plateau, the other being Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston.
Prior to his NHL debut, Beniers spent two seasons with the University of Michigan Wolverines totalling 30 goals and 37 assists for 67 points in 61 NCAA games, he was named a top 10 Hobey Baker Finalist in 2021-22.
Internationally, Beniers has represented the United States on multiple occasions including the 2021 World Junior Championship, the 2021 IIHF World Championship and the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Seattle will kick off the 2024-25 regular season on Oct. 8 against the St. Louis Blues at Climate Pledge Arena.