Beniers Certain Kraken Can 'Outperform The Projections'

Counting down the hours until the Seattle Kraken season opener Thursday in Calgary.
Simmer’s tidy game preview can be found here.

Kraken Center Believes

Analytics site MoneyPuck.com pegs the 2026-27 Kraken’s chances of making the playoffs at 19.1 percent, about 1-in-5 odds. That’s less of a long-shot than only three other teams – Vancouver, Chicago, and Seattle’s opening night opponent, the Calgary Flames. The site’s methodology is explained here.

You know who doesn’t care about MoneyPuck’s predictions, or anyone else’s? Kraken center Matty Beniers, who preferred to explain in a KIRO-AM interview how and why Seattle can exceed expectations.

“I believe we have a team that can get to playoffs and have success. Every single year, you see teams outperform the projections of the writers. Buffalo did it last year. You get hot at the right time, you have good mojo going, your team’s got a lot of confidence.

“It’s a lot about gaining momentum, getting better every day, winning the games you should, and finding a way to win the games maybe you shouldn’t.”

Teammates have taken note of those strong affirmations. No wonder Kraken coach Lane Lambert filled reporter notebooks with praise for the 23-year-old center. “He’s progressed in every area of leadership, and certainly more vocal as (last) season went along. A little bit more willing to say things and not necessarily sit back.

“There’s an understanding here that he’s one of our team leaders as the organization moves forward. He draws people in. He takes care of his teammates. It’s a really endearing quality.”

Defenseman Vince Dunn is among the Beniers Believers. “The way he speaks in the dressing room, it’s been pretty neat to see him develop in that way. Just the passion he has for himself as a person and the city.”

Dream A Little Dream Of DuPont

Two Sportsnet.ca “Bold Predictions” on the eve of the season concerned the Kraken.

“6. The Seattle Kraken will win the 2027 NHL Draft Lottery and the right to select Landon DuPont from Michigan. Kraken GM Jason Botterill is a Michigan guy. He’s got work to do to reshape Seattle – and the best way to do that is to draft the top-end talent that the Kraken have failed to acquire in their short franchise history.”

Well, 2026 1st round pick Chase Reid might have something to say about that. Anyway, we didn’t exactly predict DuPont’s return to Puget Sound, but we did write about the former Everett Silvertip here.

Oh, the other bold prediction? Number 16, that Seattle would miss the playoffs. See preceding item for clues about how Matty Beniers feels about that.

McMann Re-signing With Kraken A Developing Situation

Kraken, McMann — **Bobby McMann scored 10 goals in 18 games at the tail end of last season, and in September, picked up where he left off.**

Bobby McMann scored in both his preseason appearances, resuming his late-season success in Seattle as a trade deadline pickup from Toronto. Coach Lambert revealed why McMann eschewed free agency this summer to sign a six year, $34.5 million contract with the Kraken.

“He’s a guy who continuously wants to develop his game. He’s worked his way up from ground zero, attended a couple of development camps, one in Calgary and one in Toronto, and that’s how he kind of got his way in. He wants to continue to grow his game.

“From our perspective as an organization, as a coaching staff, it’s a prime focus of ours to get players better on a team and individual basis. I think he liked that. There were things we were doing here that he hadn’t seen before. It’s probably a good portion of why he wanted to remain here.

“He’s going to get an opportunity to play here. He’s played for me before (when Lambert was an assistant coach for the Maple Leafs), and I think he trusts that.”