What does the Matty Beniers means for the Kraken

The 21-year-old center netted just 15 goals and 37 points over 77 games last season. Now, he's set to earn $7.14 million in 2024-25 and for six more years after that.

However, those stats don't erase the fact that Beniers captured the Calder Trophy in his rookie year, demonstrating his potential as a dynamic, long-term center. To even begin justifying this salary bump, he'll need to at least return to his rookie totals of 24 goals and 57 points across 80 games.

But progress in the NHL is rarely straightforward. Sometimes players take a step back or move laterally, which is a normal part of development for young talents.

Given that, it's reasonable to expect that Beniers' new deal might prove to be a steal before it's all said and done.

Kraken GM Ron Francis has already displayed patience with another rising star, Shane Wright. The addition of experienced players like Chandler Stephenson from Vegas and defenseman Brandon Montour will help ease some of the pressure on Beniers this upcoming season.

Beniers is far from the first top prospect to face adversity early on. Just look at Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield, who were drafted a year ahead of him and only began finding their stride last season.

Instead of opting for a short-term bridge deal and potentially chasing a much bigger contract down the road, Beniers has committed to a long-term deal, which immediately raises the stakes. From an optimistic perspective, that's exactly the kind of confidence you want to see in a growing player. Francis, a seasoned team architect, is betting on Beniers to thrive. While there's no guarantee, there's a solid chance that Beniers will evolve into an elite NHLer.

In the salary cap era, GMs often gamble on young players' future success, and this extension is no exception. The Kraken may hit it big with Beniers, or they could fall short. Deals like this rarely end in the middle. We're betting on the former outcome.