Matty Beniers Bio
Matthew Beniers is an American professional ice hockey center who serves as an alternate captain for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born and raised in Hingham, Massachusetts, Beniers developed into one of the top prospects of his draft class and was selected second overall by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the franchise’s first-ever selection. After starring for the University of Michigan, he joined the NHL full-time in 2022 and quickly established himself as a reliable two-way center with scoring touch. In 2023, he became the first Kraken player to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie, cementing his reputation as a cornerstone of the young franchise.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Beniers was born on November 5, 2002, in Hingham, Massachusetts. He was raised in a supportive household by his father, Bob Beniers, and his mother, Christine Maglione. His father played collegiate football at Cornell University, while his mother worked as an understudy for the Broadway production A Chorus Line before eventually enrolling in law school. Growing up in Hingham, a coastal town south of Boston, Beniers was introduced to hockey at a young age, a sport deeply embedded in the region’s athletic culture.
The family environment encouraged both academics and athletics, and Beniers benefited from the balance his parents provided between school and sport. His mother’s transition from performing arts to law school reflected an emphasis on perseverance that influenced Beniers as he pursued his own athletic ambitions. By the time he reached his early teens, he had advanced through local youth hockey ranks and earned a place in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, a major step toward a professional trajectory.
Path to Hockey
Beniers entered the USA Hockey National Team Development Program during the 2018–19 season, skating in the United States Hockey League (USHL). In his first year, he posted 10 goals and 13 assists across 42 games, showcasing the well-rounded game that would later define his career. During the 2019–20 season, he served as alternate captain and ranked second on the team in scoring with 18 goals and 23 assists in 44 games.
Originally committed to play college hockey at Harvard, Beniers pivoted to the University of Michigan in August 2020 after the Ivy League canceled its season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a freshman with the Michigan Wolverines in 2020–21, he recorded 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games and led the Big Ten in on-ice rating at plus-21. Following his freshman season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team and the College Hockey News All-Rookie Team, marking him as one of the top young players in the collegiate game.
Matty Beniers Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Beniers spent two seasons developing within the USA Hockey National Team Development Program between 2018 and 2020, refining his skills against older competition in the USHL. His steady production and leadership as an alternate captain drew attention from NHL scouts across North America. By the end of his junior career, he had positioned himself as a consensus top-three selection heading into the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
University of Michigan Breakthrough (2020–2022)
During his sophomore season at Michigan in 2021–22, Beniers elevated his performance, recording 27 points in 20 conference games and becoming the Big Ten Scoring Champion. He finished the year with 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in 37 games, leading the Wolverines in scoring. Following that standout year, he was named a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team, a finalist for the Big Ten Player of the Year, and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He was also recognized as an AHCA West First Team All-American, completing one of the most decorated sophomore seasons in program history.
Seattle Kraken Era (2022–Present)
The Seattle Kraken selected Beniers second overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, making him the expansion franchise’s first-ever draft pick. On April 10, 2022, he signed a three-year entry-level contract, and two days later he made his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames, recording his first NHL assist. He scored his first NHL goal on April 16, 2022, in a home win over the New Jersey Devils, finishing his brief debut season with three goals and nine points in 10 games.
Beniers’s first full NHL season in 2022–23 established him as the league’s top rookie. He appeared in 80 regular-season games and led all rookies in points with 57 while tying for the rookie lead in goals with 24 alongside Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston. On June 26, 2023, he was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year, the first such honor in Kraken franchise history.
On August 20, 2024, the Kraken signed Beniers to a seven-year, $50 million contract extension, signaling his long-term role as a centerpiece of the franchise. He continues to serve as an alternate captain, providing scoring depth, defensive responsibility, and leadership to a Seattle team that has steadily grown around its young core.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the ice, Beniers combines strong two-way play with a high hockey IQ, positioning himself effectively in all three zones and contributing reliably on the penalty kill as well as at even strength. His skating, vision, and playmaking allow him to function as both a finisher and a setup man, and his composure with the puck has drawn praise from coaches and teammates alike.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beniers became the first Seattle Kraken player to win the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2023, a milestone moment for both him and the franchise. His selection as the second overall pick in 2021 marked the Kraken’s inaugural draft selection, and his seven-year contract extension in 2024 underscored the organization’s commitment to building around his leadership.
Matty Beniers Career Wins
Beyond his NHL achievements, Beniers has compiled a strong resume of international success representing the United States at multiple levels. He won a bronze medal at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships and helped Team USA claim gold at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he was the youngest player on the roster. He later earned a bronze medal at the 2021 IIHF World Championship and represented the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, finishing fifth overall.
International Highlights
Beniers most recently represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded three goals and three assists in 10 games and helped Team USA capture its first gold medal at the event since 1933. His combination of international experience and NHL production has made him one of the most accomplished young American hockey players of his generation.
Matty Beniers Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Beniers comes from an accomplished family that values both education and athletic achievement. His father, Bob Beniers, played collegiate football at Cornell University, while his mother, Christine Maglione, performed as an understudy on Broadway before pursuing a legal career. The combination of athletic and artistic roots gave Matthew a balanced perspective on competition and discipline.
Personal Life
Beniers remains closely connected to his family, often crediting conversations with his parents, Kraken general manager Ron Francis, and teammate Ryan Donato for helping him navigate the transition from college hockey to the NHL. He continues to be based in Seattle while representing the Kraken as one of the team’s foundational players.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Matty Beniers continues to anchor the Seattle Kraken’s top-six forward group as an alternate captain and primary two-way center. Following his seven-year contract extension in August 2024, his role within the team’s long-term vision has only grown, and he remains a focal point of the Kraken’s offensive structure. His consistent production and leadership on and off the ice position him as a key figure in Seattle’s pursuit of a deeper playoff run.
Through the early portion of the 2025 calendar, Beniers complemented his NHL commitments by representing the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, helping Team USA win gold for the first time since 1933. His three goals and three assists in 10 tournament games reinforced his standing among the top American centers in the game.
As the 2025 season progresses, the Kraken continue to rely on Beniers for steady production, special-teams reliability, and veteran poise from a player who has already reached the league’s highest individual honor for rookies. With his contract secured through 2031, his trajectory suggests he will remain a defining presence for Seattle for years to come.
