All Things Matty Beniers, Day 10: Before He Was A Kraken

Editor's Note: Congratulations, Kraken fans! You've made it through the All-Star break and Kraken schedule break (no doubt with help from "10 Days of #10.")

Before the Seattle Kraken resume action Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, let's conclude our series on the 2023 Calder Trophy winner, Matty Beniers.

Matty Beniers Photo Of The Day

As you'll read below, Beniers is known for his musical knowledge. But it was unusual timing for him, right before a faceoff, to break into “La donna e mobile” from the opera "Rigoletto."

Michigan Loses One To Washington

For all you Huskies football fans, I'm sorry the above headline couldn't refer to this year's National Championship game.

If it's any consolation, the Wolverines did have to wave goodbye to Matty Beniers after he joined the Kraken in 2022.

When Beniers left Michigan to join the Kraken at the tail end of the 2021-22 season, the Detroit Free Press wrote , "There’s little doubt the Massachusetts native is ready after a dominating second season. Beniers led Michigan in points (43) after posting 20 goals (tied for ninth nationally) and 23 assists. He was a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten first team, as well as a West All-American first-team selection."

Beniers' coach at Michigan, Mel Pearson, explains why Seattle made Matty their first ever draft choice, 2nd overall, in 2021.

"You trust him to play in any situation, Pearson said in a team-produced video. "He's got the skill offensively to play on both sides of the puck. He's a lot of fun to coach."

Covid altered Beniers' hockey life in two ways. He had committed to Harvard until the Crimson cancelled their season. That's how he ended up in Ann Arbor. And when the NHL removed its players from the 2022 Bejing Olympics, that cleared a spot for Beniers on Team USA.

"Beniers displayed his versatility for Team USA," wrote the (MA) Patriot Ledger, "not only with his 200-foot game and his ability to win faceoffs, but by also suiting up on the power play and penalty kill."

Beniers starred in the locker room, too, with his musical choices. “It’s the best playlist I’ve heard in hockey,” Team USA coach David Quinn said to AP . “I told Matty Beniers, ‘You’re a hell of a player, but you’re a better DJ.’”