Kraken 'fortunate enough' to get Wright at 2022 NHL Draft, Beniers says

SEATTLE -- Matty Beniers said he's excited about the future of the Seattle Kraken after they selected center
Shane Wright
with the No. 4 pick of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft last week.

"I think we were fortunate enough to get Shane and a lot of other great players," Beniers said after skating with Wright for the first time at development camp Monday. "You watch [the draft] and you're like, 'Wow, that was me a couple years ago,' and now you see a bunch of other guys' dream come true. So it's pretty special."
Beniers made his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames on April 12 and had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 10 games with the Kraken, who made the 19-year-old center their first-ever pick at No. 2 in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Wright was No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's ranking of North American skaters from start to finish this season and was projected to be the top pick in the 2022 draft, but fell to Seattle at No. 4. He was eighth in the Ontario Hockey League with 94 points (32 goals, 62 assists) in 63 games with Kingston, including 51 points (17 goals, 34 assists) in his final 32 games.
Beniers and Wright were two of 27 players who were on the ice when the Kraken opened development camp. The 45-minute session consisted of drills and 1-on-1 competition.
"Every time you're on the ice you get a chance at getting better," Beniers said. "Obviously you're here to meet everyone and build that team chemistry, team culture that we're trying to build here."

Seattle (27-49-6) finished 30th in the 32-team NHL in its inaugural season.
Beniers and Wright spent Sunday afternoon, along with the other prospects in camp, bonding at a Seattle Mariners baseball game. Beniers threw out the first pitch; Wright was on the field with him.
"We all kind of just got to know each other a little bit and asked about hometowns," Beniers said. "You know, where you played growing up, things like that. It wasn't too much hockey talk."
After being drafted last summer, Beniers returned to the University of Michigan, which advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four before losing to the University of Denver in the national semifinals. Beniers then signed with the Kraken and had an assist in his debut against the Flames, a 5-3 loss.
Wright will be given every opportunity to play in the NHL with Seattle next season. Training camp will begin in September.
"Everyone's training and getting ready for the next season," Beniers said. "We're all pretty excited, hoping for a better outcome than last year. That's the goal, and I think everyone's pretty dialed into getting that."
Photo: Seattle Kraken