Hakstol Pushes Back On Claims Of Beniers' "Sophomore Slump"
Judged solely by goal production, Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers has suffered a decline in his second full NHL season, often referred to as a "sophomore slump."
Matty Beniers won the 2023 Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.Beniers scored 24 times in his Calder Trophy-winning rookie season, compared to 14 with one Kraken game remaining in 2023-24.
Perceptions of the 21-year-old Boston native have also been affected by the overall drop in the team's performance, from 46 wins & 100 points last year to 33 & 79 after 81 games this season.
Factor in a bunch of other metrics, though, and coach Dave Hakstol says there's still a whole lot to like about Beniers' game. And if the young pivot focuses on one area over the summer, Hakstol believes the goal-scoring touch will return as well.
That's the subject of today's Kraken Reaction video.