Seattle Kraken sign Matty Beniers, team’s first draft pick, to 3-year contract

The future of the Seattle Kraken is imminent. Matty Beniers, the team’s first-ever NHL Draft pick, has signed and will be joining the team this week.

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Beniers, who the Kraken drafted No. 2 overall in the entry draft last summer, completed his college season with Michigan on Thursday with a loss in the NCAA Frozen Four, immediately starting a watch to see when he sign with the team. It took three days before Beniers and the Kraken announced a three-year entry level contract.

The news was first broken on Beniers’ own Twitter account Sunday afternoon with a post featuring a graphic of Beniers in his Michigan uniform standing in front of the Seattle skyline from the waterfront. In the post, he wrote, “See you soon,” with an emoji of an octopus at the end.

The Kraken confirmed the news shortly after with a video and tweet.

#BeniersWatch is officially over 🙌

We’ve agreed to terms with first-round draft pick @Matty_Beniers10 on an entry level contract → https://t.co/rYwnt13Ptn pic.twitter.com/ujJRmO9QTU

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) April 10, 2022

“We’re excited to welcome Matty to our organization,” Kraken general manager Ron Francis said in a press relese. “He capped off a productive career at Michigan with a trip to the Frozen Four and has impressed our staff over the past couple of years with his leadership and strong two-way game. We’re looking forward to working with him as he takes the next step in his development.”

The 19-year-old Beniers will wear No. 10 and join the team in time for practice Monday. It’s unclear when Beniers will debut in a game, but there are three chances for it to happen week as the Kraken will play Wednesday at Calgary, Thursday at Winnipeg, and then return home to Climate Pledge Arena to host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

“It’s truly an honor to join the Kraken organization and I can’t wait to get started,” Beniers said in the team’s press release. “Although we fell short of our goal, I loved my time with Michigan and am looking forward to the next step in my journey. Being drafted last summer was surreal and I’m excited to get to Seattle.”

A 6-foot-1, 175-pound center, Beniers scored 20 goals and 43 points in 36 games with Michigan as a sophomore in 2021-22. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the best men’s hockey player in the NCAA. He also played for the United States in the 2022 Winter Olympics, serving as one of the youngest players in the tournament in Beijing, China.

For a closer look at Beniers and what to expect from the newest Kraken player, read this post from SeattleSports.com Kraken insider Andy Eide from Thursday.

Here are some facts and figures on Beniers courtesy of the Seattle Kraken PR team.

The #SeaKraken have agreed to terms with forward Matty Beniers on a three-year, entry-level contract. pic.twitter.com/xwF5Ep6TSd

— Seattle Kraken PR (@SeattleKrakenPR) April 10, 2022

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