Kraken Extend Qualifying Offers To Beniers, Tolvanen And Seppala; Yamamoto Headed To Free Agency

The Seattle Kraken have extended qualifying offers to Matty Beniers, Eeli Tolvanen and Peetro Seppala. Kailer Yamamoto did not receive a QO and will head to free agency.

General manager Ron Francis mentioned that Beniers and Tolvanen would be receiving qualifying offers a couple of days ago and that Yamamoto was given permission to begin conversations with other teams. Today at the 5:00 P.M. deadline, he stayed true to his word.

Related: GM Ron Francis Gives Updates On Kraken's Three RFAs

Beniers is still just 21 years old but is the cornerstone of the franchise. The first draft pick in franchise history, the 2022-23 Calder Trophy winner and soon-to-be highest-paid player on the Kraken roster, it was never a doubt that this was coming.

Tolvanen was a waiver claim by the Kraken and quickly revived his career in Seattle. A once highly anticipated prospect has found a home with the Kraken and will be with the club for at least one more season.

Seppala is a 6'2, left-handed defenseman who's spent the previous two seasons playing with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He's featured in 119 regular season games but has yet to feature in a playoff game.

The 23-year-old was signed from Finland before the 2022-23 season.

Yamamoto was a first-round pick in 2017 but has struggled to find ground in the NHL outside of one season. His ice time has diminished each season since then and mustered just eight goals and 16 points in the previous campaign.

The 25-year-old will look for a team to take a chance on him again, likely on a one-year deal to prove himself.

The next step for Francis and the Kraken is free agency which begins tomorrow.

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