Silky Kraken Matty Beniers On Selke Short List

Young Seattle Center Could Add To Trophy Collection

Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers could be in line for his second piece of hardware in as many seasons.

Beniers, the reigning Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year, will likely merit discussion for the Selke, awarded to the league's best defensive forward.

The Hockey News' Rachel Doerrie outlines the criteria. "Key components of a Selke-worthy player are winning tough matchups against high Quality of Competition (QoC), successful penalty killing, defensive zone starts and face-off wins."

Later in her THN column, Doerrie explains why Beniers deserves a spot on her Selke short list. "Beniers showcased his two-way ability out of the gate, driving the play at both ends of the ice. It is reasonable to assume that his play will continue to improve and thus, he will earn harder minutes and a role on the penalty kill. 

"Dave Hakstol is likely to use him in tougher situations this season. It is an opportunity he has earned and one he is likely to thrive in." Doerrie notes, however, that actually winning the award is "probably two or three years away."

In addition to his Calder win last season, Beniers was in consideration for the Lady Byng, given to the league's most gentlemanly player.

The Detroit News pointed out just what foreign territory the penalty box was to the Kraken rookie. "Beniers, who finished second among rookie forwards in total time on ice and fourth in average time on ice (17:06), was assessed only one penalty. 

"(He became) the fourth different player in League history – rookie or veteran – to skate in at least 80 games in a season and receive two or fewer penalty minutes."

One person THN's Doerrie won't have to convince is Kraken general manager Ron Francis. He told The Athletic Hockey Podcast earlier this year that Beniers displays an admirable consistency. "He's never had any of those peaks and valleys. He just was good from game one on.

"You go back to (2022), we brought him in for the ten games. I'd be lying if I said I thought those ten games were going to go as well as they did. And then as a GM, you're constantly worrying, right? So now he's going to go home. He's had the success. Is he really going to train as hard as he needs to train? 

"But this kid is a true pro. He comes in training camp, from day one, he's an engine for our team. He doesn't take a day off, whether it's practice or a game. He competes hard every night."

The numbers back that up. From the News: "The No. 2 overall pick from the 2021 NHL Draft, the first selection in Seattle history, ranked among the top rookies in multi-point performances (1st; 18), shooting percentage (1st, minimum: 80 S; 16.2%), plus/minus (1st; +14), goals (t-1st; 24), assists (2nd; 33), game-winning goals (2nd; 4), shots on goal (4th; 148), power-play points (6th; 10), power-play goals (t-6th; 4) and power-play assists (8th; 6)."

"You're worried this is his first time going through 82 games and the travel, especially on the West Coast, being a little harder," Francis said. "Is he going to have that dip? Is he going to get tired? There might have been small little signs of that, but overall he maintained it for the course of 82 games."