Seattle Kraken management, spurned recently by star players from other teams, has a stock response. Players who experience the organization and the region, they respond, are quite satisfied.
Count Kraken center Matty Beniers in that group. Beniers is entering the third season of a seven year, $50 million contract signed in 2024.
“They love sports in Seattle, regardless of what sport it is. Love it. They’re starting to understand (hockey) now. There were definitely some times in the first year, second year, when like a goal gets called back, and they’re still going nuts.
“The organization is unbelievable. The way we get treated, holy cow, it’s second to none. The rink is sweet; the owners really did it up right. They were telling us they were over budget when they built the rink and all the stuff. They’re pretty awesome about that.”
The next job is convincing players to stick around after the season ends. “That’s what they’re trying to build there. It’s not like Boston, where the (Bruins), 15, 20, 25 guys who stay are ‘Boston guys.’ You need people to skate with and train with. Here in Seattle there’s not that big hockey community. They’re just starting it.”
Kraken Coach & Captain Returning
The Kraken started each of the last three seasons with a different coach. Beniers is glad that streak is over. “I really like Lane (Lambert) and the staff. Different coaches can be good, but also can be tough, because you’re trying to get the lay of the land with your new coaches. It’ll be nice this year coming in; we already have a plan in place. It’s building instead of restarting.”
Captain Jordan Eberle is also returning, having signed a two-year extension in March. “He loves the game, maybe more than any guy I’ve ever met. He wants to win so badly. It’s pretty cool to have a guy like that on your team. He can get fiery, but he’s pretty good at staying calm. He isn’t talking when he doesn’t feel he needs to.”
One topic teammates raise is the captain’s goal for Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championship. Eberle scored to tie the semifinal against Russia with six seconds left, and Team Canada went on to capture gold. “He’s Canada’s hero. We talk about that all the time.”
Beniers Might Be Welcoming New Kraken Roomie
Another teammate, Berkly Catton, was a few days shy of his 3rd birthday when Eberle scored his World Juniors goal. Beniers says of the now-20-year-old forward, “Great guy. I love his game. Really skilled, smart. Pretty dang funny off the ice, too. An all-around character. The boys love him. We might be bunking up next year, we’ll see.”
Beniers likes having people around. “It helps so much. I had a roommate my first 2 1/2 years, Will Borgen. He got traded to the Rangers. That was tough, a dose of what the pros are like. My best buddy, gone. You don’t even get to say goodbye.”
It was different for Matty in college. “After practice at Michigan, we go watch TV or play Xbox or do nothing, together. Now you’re in pro, thousands of miles away from your family. All your buddies have families, wives, girlfriends. You’re kind of like, ‘All right, what am I doing now?’ You have find things you like to do outside the rink.
“I have a house in Seattle now, so that keeps me busy. The golf’s great, try new restaurants, cooking on the side when I’m home alone.”
Quotes in this story come from the Spittin’ Chicklets podcast, edited for length and clarity.
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