Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
The first pick in Seattle Kraken history has officially signed his first contract.
Matty Beniers, the second-overall pick in 2021, has signed a three-year entry level contract to turn pro after completing his sophomore campaign with the University of Michigan.
A Hobey Baker finalist as the B1G scoring champion, Beniers’ explosive season saw him score 20 goals and 43 points in 37 games. Beniers also played for USA at the short-lived 2022 World Junior Championship and had two points at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in February.
A product of the US National Team Development Program, Beniers won gold at the 2021 World Junior Championship and bronze at the World Championship as an underaged forward.
Beniers is a dynamic forward that loves to take control of a shift and plays a good defensive game. The Kraken are getting a center that plays a complete game and can be relied upon in any situation asked of him.