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Matty Beniers

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Matty Beniers
Beniers with the Seattle Kraken in November 2023
Born (2002-11-05) November 5, 2002 (age 22)
Hingham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Left
NHL team Seattle Kraken
National team  United States
NHL draft 2nd overall, 2021
Seattle Kraken
Playing career 2022–present

Matthew Beniers (/bəˈnɪərs/; born November 5, 2002) is an American professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Kraken drafted Beniers second overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft with their first-ever selection in an entry draft. He played college ice hockey at Michigan. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2023.

Early life

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Beniers was born on November 5, 2002, in Hingham, Massachusetts,[1] to parents Bob Beniers and Christine Maglione. His father played collegiate football at Cornell University while his mother was an understudy for A Chorus Line on Broadway before enrolling in law school.[2]

Playing career

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Junior

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During the 2018–19 season, in his first season with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program of the United States Hockey League (USHL), Beniers recorded 10 goals and 13 assists in 42 games. During the 2019–20 season, Beniers was alternate captain of the team, where he ranked second on the team in scoring with 18 goals and 23 assists in 44 games.[3][4]

Collegiate

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Beniers was committed to play ice hockey for Harvard; however, after the Ivy League cancelled their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he enrolled at Michigan in August 2020.[5][6] Beniers began his collegiate career for the Michigan Wolverines during the 2020–21 season. He recorded 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games during his freshman season. He led the conference in on-ice rating with a +21, ranking him eighth nationally. He led first-time NHL Draft-eligible NCAA players in goals, goals per game (0.42), and shots on goal per game. His 24 points ranked third in the league in freshmen scoring and fourth nationally.[7] He recorded his first career goal in his first game of the season.[8]

On February 26, 2021, he recorded his first career hat-trick in a game against Arizona State.[9] He was subsequently named the Big Ten Third Star of the Week for the week ending March 1.[10] On March 5, he recorded his first career four-point game, with one goal and three assists in a game against Minnesota. He was subsequently named the Big Ten Third Star of the Week for the week ending March 9.[11] Following the season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team and the College Hockey News All-Rookie Team.[12][13]

On August 20, 2021, the Wolverines announced that Beniers would return for the 2021–22 season.[14] During his sophomore year, he was the Big Ten Scoring Champion, as he recorded 27 points in 20 conference games. He had 10 multiple-point conference games. He led Michigan in scoring with 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in 37 games.[15] Following an outstanding season, he was named a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team, and a finalist for the Big Ten Player of the Year.[16] He was also named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and an AHCA West First Team All-American.[17]

Professional

[edit]
Beniers with the Seattle Kraken in April 2022.

Beniers entered the 2021 NHL Entry Draft as one of the consensus top prospects, and was ultimately selected second overall by the Seattle Kraken, becoming the expansion team's first-ever draft selection.[18][19] On April 10, 2022, Beniers signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kraken.[20][21] He had been uncertain whether he would turn professional or return to the University of Michigan for another year, but ultimately opted to sign, following discussions with his family, Kraken general manager Ron Francis, and new teammate Ryan Donato.[22] Making his NHL debut on April 12, two days after his contract signing, Beniers recorded his first NHL assist in a 5–3 loss to the Calgary Flames. He described being "excited about how all right I felt" during his first appearance in the league.[23] Beniers scored his first NHL goal in an April 16 win at home against the New Jersey Devils.[24] He ended the season with three goals and nine points through 10 NHL games.[1]

Beniers battling for possession of the puck against Stars forward Tyler Seguin in May 2023

Beginning his first full season in the NHL, Beniers was named as the Kraken's representative in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game.[25] On January 30, 2023, it was announced Beniers would miss the All-Star Game due to an injury caused by a hit from Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers.[26] He appeared in 80 regular season games, leading all rookies in points (57) and tying for the lead in goals (24) with Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston. On June 26, he was announced as the winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy, the NHL's Rookie of the Year award.[27][28]

On August 20, 2024, the Kraken and Beniers agreed to a 7-year, $50 million contract extension, with Seattle citing Beniers as a cornerstone of the franchise.[29]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Latvia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Canada
World U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Sweden

Beniers represented the United States at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded two goals in seven games and won a bronze medal. Beniers represented the United States at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he was the youngest player on the roster, scoring one goal and two assists and averaging 17:05 of ice time in seven games as a second-line center, helping the United States win gold.[30]

Beniers represented the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, where he was the only draft-eligible player on Team USA and won a bronze medal. He became the fifth Wolverine to represent their country at both the World Junior and World Championship in the same season, following Jack Johnson (2007), Jacob Trouba (2013), Dylan Larkin (2015) and Quinn Hughes (2018 and 2019).[31]

Beniers represented the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics with one goal and one assist in four games and finished in fifth place.[32]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2018–19 U.S. National Development Team USHL 42 10 13 23 16 — — — — —
2019–20 U.S. National Development Team USHL 44 18 23 41 24 — — — — —
2020–21 University of Michigan B1G 24 10 14 24 0 — — — — —
2021–22 University of Michigan B1G 37 20 23 43 16 — — — — —
2021–22 Seattle Kraken NHL 10 3 6 9 0 — — — — —
2022–23 Seattle Kraken NHL 80 24 33 57 2 14 3 4 7 4
2023–24 Seattle Kraken NHL 77 15 22 37 20 — — — — —
NHL totals 167 42 61 103 22 14 3 4 7 4

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2019 United States U18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 2 0 2 4
2021 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 1 2 3 2
2021 United States WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 1 1 2 2
2022 United States OG 5th 4 1 1 2 4
Junior totals 14 3 2 5 6
Senior totals 10 2 2 4 6

Awards and honors

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Award Year Ref
College
All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2021 [33]
College Hockey News All-Rookie Team 2021 [13]
All-Big Ten First Team 2022 [16]
Big Ten Scoring Champion 2022
Big Ten All-Tournament Team 2022 [34]
AHCA West First Team All-American 2022 [35]
NHL
NHL All-Star Game 2023 [25]
Calder Memorial Trophy 2023 [28]
NHL All-Rookie Team 2023 [36]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Matty Beniers". Elite Prospects. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Shefte, Kate (June 26, 2023). "Kraken center Matty Beniers wins NHL rookie of the year award". Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  3. ^ McNeil, Kristy (August 12, 2020). "Beniers Joins 2020-21 Michigan Ice Hockey Incoming Class". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Loftus, Mike (November 12, 2020). "Hingham's Matt Beniers excited to begin college hockey career at Michigan". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  5. ^ Schumer, Ema (July 8, 2020). "Ivy League Cancels Fall Sports Season". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Taubman, Joshua (November 14, 2020). "He was supposed to play for Harvard. Now he might put Michigan hockey over the top". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  7. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (May 27, 2021). "2021 NHL Draft: Top 10 forwards". NHL.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  8. ^ McNeil, Kristy (November 14, 2020). "U-M Freshmen Shine in Big Season-Opening Win Over Arizona State". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  9. ^ McNeil, Kristy (February 26, 2021). "Beniers' Hat Trick Leads Michigan Past Arizona State". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  10. ^ "Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin Earn Three Stars Honors". BigTen.org. March 2, 2021. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  11. ^ "Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin Earn Three Stars Honors". BigTen.org. March 10, 2021. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  12. ^ McNeil, Kristy (March 16, 2021). "Bordeleau, York Named B1G Rookie, Defenseman of Year to Lead U-M Honorees". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "2020-21 All-CHN Teams". collegehockeynews.com. March 31, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  14. ^ Kirschman, Lauren (August 23, 2021). "Top Seattle Kraken pick Matt Beniers will return to University of Michigan". thenewstribune.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  15. ^ McNeil, Kristy (March 15, 2022). "Beniers, Power on All-Big Ten First Team; Hughes Shares Top Freshman Award". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 15, 2022. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  17. ^ McNeil, Kristy (April 8, 2022). "Beniers, Hughes and Power Earn All-American Honors". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  18. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (May 27, 2021). "Power tops Central Scouting North American rankings for 2021 NHL Draft". NHL.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  19. ^ "Kraken use first-ever draft pick to select Matthew Beniers No. 2 overall". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  20. ^ Condor, Bob (April 10, 2022). "Beniers Begins". NHL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  21. ^ Ford, Ryan (April 10, 2022). "Matty Beniers headed from Michigan hockey to NHL's Seattle Kraken". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  22. ^ Clark, Ryan S. (April 11, 2022). "'Matty, you will be fine': Inside the 72 hours that led to Matty Beniers signing with the Kraken". The Athletic. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  23. ^ Baker, Geoff (April 12, 2022). "Matty Beniers makes solid NHL debut, but third period dooms Kraken in Calgary". Seattle Times. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  24. ^ "Beniers scores first NHL goal, Kraken top Devils in shootout". NHL.com. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  25. ^ a b Satriano, David (January 5, 2023). "NHL All-Star Game rosters unveiled; Shesterkin among 11 first-time picks". NHL.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Baker, Geoff (January 30, 2023). "'Garbage' hit knocks Kraken's Matty Beniers out of NHL All-Star Game". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  27. ^ Satriano, David (May 3, 2023). "Beniers, Power, Skinner named Calder Trophy finalists". NHL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Satriano, David (June 26, 2023). "Beniers of Kraken wins Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year". NHL.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  29. ^ "Kraken, Beniers Agree on Next Contract". NHL.com. Associated Press. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  30. ^ McNeil, Kristy (December 12, 2020). "Beniers, Brisson, York Named to US National Junior Team". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  31. ^ McNeil, Kristy (May 14, 2021). "USA Picks Beniers, Canada Selects Power for World Championship". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  32. ^ "2022 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team Unveiled". teamusa.com. January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  33. ^ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 16, 2021. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  34. ^ McNeil, Kristy (March 19, 2022). "Michigan Scores Four Straight to Win Second B1G Tournament Championship". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  35. ^ "Four players return to 2021-22 Division I men's All-American teams, led by three-time pick Dryden McKay". USCHO.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  36. ^ "NHL announces 2022-23 All-Rookie Team". NHL.com. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
None
 Seattle Kraken first round draft pick
2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Big Ten Scoring Champion
2021–22 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy
2023 		Succeeded by
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