Kraken center Matty Beniers is doing his summer conditioning work near his hometown in Boston. Although he trains with fellow NHLers from the region, their workout regimens aren’t cookie-cutter.
“It’s different for every guy,” Beniers said on the Spittin’ Chicklets podcast. “My biggest thing is getting bigger, putting on more muscle. Going on the ice at this point wouldn’t be the smartest thing.”
Here’s why: Beniers loses weight during the course of the season. Just one practice can cost him 3-4 pounds. “Mostly water weight. You just have to pound water to get it back. Our goalies had that issue for a while. It is so annoying.”
Offseason job one then, is replacing what he’s lost. Beniers is up 8-10 pounds since April, about halfway to his goal. More size in the proper places will actually improve his skating, already one of his strengths.
“You look at a lot of the centermen around the league, they’re bigger, stronger guys. In the corner, draws, shutting down other guys. Having more muscle in my legs, my butt, is going help my skating, make me faster. For me, it’s all weight room until (early August). I’ll get back on the ice 2-3 times a week.”
At least the new season won’t be quite as physically taxing as the last one, compressed by the mandatory Olympics break. “This (past) year was crazy. Our travel is the worst. Playing 17 games in a month was outrageous. There’s no two (days off) in between games. You get off of warm-ups, you go in there, and you put the IcyHot on. ‘All right, we’ve got to get going!'”
Beniers Can Help Kraken By Being ‘More Selfish’
2025-26 won’t be fondly remembered in Seattle because the Kraken faded down the stretch. “It was promising last year. We got really hot before the break. After the break, we couldn’t get that mojo going again.”
Beniers has a personal plan for a more productive 2026-27. “Taking more offensive risks. I try to be a two-way player; it’s always been part of my game. I think there’s areas for me to grow on the offensive side of the puck. Y’know, take guys one-on-one, going wide a little more, being more selfish with the puck, shooting a little more.”
He’d also like to put a charge in the Seattle man-advantage. “You see the guys get to 80, 90, 100 points. Where that comes from is the power play points.”
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Forward And Spring City Poll Both Applaud Seattle
