Matty Beniers became the second overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, taken by the Seattle Kraken. With that, he became the newest expansion franchise’s first-ever selection.
The University of Michigan center joined teammate Owen Power as the first teammates to be drafted first and second overall in more than 50 years (Rejean Houle, Marc Tardif, Montreal Jr. Canadiens, 1969). The Wolverines made history when Kent Johnson went fifth overall to Columbus, making it the first time three players on the same team went inside the top five of an NHL draft.
For Beniers, it was the culmination of many years of hard work and development. He wasn't completely sure going in where he would end up.
“Honestly, you never really know — anything can happen on draft night,” Beniers said when asked if he had an idea he would be the choice at No. 2. “I definitely liked the Kraken a lot when I interviewed with them throughout the process and felt that they liked me.”
It was no surprise that Beniers would be one of the first players chosen in the draft. The Hingham, Mass. native was universally respected among scouts for his elite work ethic and motor always revving on high. That he possesses the size, skating and enough skill to provide offense at the highest levels to go with his character and superb hockey IQ simply meant that he is one of the best NHL prospects to come out of New England since Jack Eichel.
He credited fellow Seattle forward Colin Blackwell (Lawrence, Mass.) for being a mentor and helping him during his development process playing in Massachusetts rinks and growing as a player. Blackwell, a star at St. John's Prep and Harvard University, was a seventh-round pick in 2011, but carved out a niche in the NHL with the NY Rangers. He was selected by the Kraken in Wednesday's expansion draft.
“Honestly I don’t know,” Beniers said when asked about where he will play next year. “Whether it’s going back (to Michigan) or going to play for the Kraken. Obviously, I would be really excited to go and play for the Kraken, I think going back (to school) another year and keep building the confidence, and I think a big thing is not having a real year, not playing a full schedule and getting kicked out of the national championship, those are things- I want to have a real year, I want to take a run at the national championship.”
Beniers brings credibility and likely longevity to his new team. He’s going to have instant buy-in on the organization’s values and will be able to adapt and play in any kind of structure right away. Whether he is asked to turn immediately or goes back to Michigan for one more year remains to be seen, but one thing appears certain: the wait for him to make his NHL debut will not be a long one.
“He’s just so smart on top of the sheer effort,” said a scout for an Eastern Conference NHL team before the draft. “He doesn’t make mental mistakes and when you see how hard he works and gets to pucks and is able to do all of the little things out there, you sometimes forget that he was doing it as the youngest kid in college hockey last year.”
That smoothness and poise is something that comes naturally to Beniers and will likely serve him well going forward. His development won’t be without hiccups or setbacks, but with his natural confidence and physical gifts, he’s expected to make a smooth transition when the time comes.
“High motor and is always moving,” Michigan associate coach Bill Muckalt’s scouting report said of Beniers after the pick was made. “Never cheats out there — complete player that can do it all.”
Now that his NHL future has been determined, the real work begins.
New England Hockey Journal projection: NHL ETA for Beniers is spring of 2022 after one more year in the NCAA. He’ll start out on the lower lines, but work his way up. He’ll eventually be a captain and franchise cornerstone type of player for the next decade-plus.
