June 5, 2024 | 12:36pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
KRAKEN BEGIN BENIERS CONTRACT TALKS
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Matty Beniers, forward
The Seattle Kraken have initiated contract discussions with pending restricted free agent centre Matty Beniers, who is coming off his entry-level contract.
Beniers, 21, registered 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in 77 games with the Kraken this season after picking up 24 goals and 57 points in 2022-23.
According to TFP’s David Pagnotta, negotiations are expected to pick up next week after the NHL Draft Combine concludes, as talks are in the early stages, at this point.
It is unclear what type of contract Beniers is looking for – short-term or long-term – but a clearer picture on his immediate future will be drawn later this month once negotiations gain momentum.
Contract talks between #SeaKraken and Matty Beniers camp are underway, albeit in the very early stages. Negotiations are expected to pick up next week, after the combine, I'm told. He's coming off his ELC, all options (long- vs. short-term) are on the table.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 5, 2024
Kraken GM Ron Francis is planning to be active this off-season as he has more than $23 million in salary cap space for the next season, a chunk of which will be allocated to Beniers.
Francis is believed to be looking to add more offence to his lineup this summer and Seattle is reportedly one of the teams that has shown interest in Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas.