Rookies Playing Like Veterans

DALLAS - Not to be lost in the Kraken postseason achievements in just the second year of the franchise is the happy fact that two Kraken prospects-turned-NHLers are playing star roles. While 20-year-old Matty Beniers has been an impressive fixture in the lineup all season, the sudden and undeniable rise of 22-year-old Tye Kartye is a prime example of why Seattle fans can be optimistic about the team's future well beyond Monday's Game 7 showdown here in Texas.

Sweeter yet, Beniers and Kartye are linemates, building chemistry every shift. The youthful duo has meshed so well with veteran Jordan Eberle that Dave Hakstol and his coaching staff have been reluctant to move Kartye from the line to reinsert 40-goal scorer Jared McCann.

When Kartye was called up to sub for the then-injured McCann, Beniers called his new linemate "a natural goal scorer." The rookie center clearly knew about Kartye's performance with American Hockey League affiliate Coachella Valley, which included notching 43 points (24 goals, 19 assists) since Jan. 1. Kartye went undrafted in his years of eligibility but GM Ron Francis and his scouting group were high on his play in the major juniors Ontario Hockey League, inviting him to the first-ever Kraken development camp during the summer of 2021 and signing him to an entry-level contract in March 2022.

Kartye subsequently was named AHL Rookie of the Year, an honor that most media observers project Beniers will match at the NHL level. If Beniers does win the Calder Trophy, it will be the first time an NHL franchise has pulled off such a player development feat since Buffalo did so in 2010 with Tyler Myers winning NHL honors and Tyler Ennis doing the same at the AHL level.

Eberle is enjoying playing with his young linemates and has taken full advantage of their speed and hockey IQs, earning two assists on Beniers' goals and another on a Kartye score. Plus, Beniers has assisted on two of Eberle's six postseason goals. It's also worth noting Kartye is one of the team leaders in hits to help Seattle lead the NHL with 240 going into Monday's Game 7.

"I'm the one who's nervous now," said linemate Jordan Eberle when it was posed he is mentoring his rookie linemates quite well. "I've got to try to keep up with them."

While Eberle is top 15 among postseason scorers with 11 total points, Beniers leads NHL rookies in playoff production with three goals and four assists. Kartye is tied with Dallas' 20-year-old forward Wyatt Johnston, each notching three goals and two assists. One note: Kartye's numbers are from nine appearances while Beniers (13 games) and Johnston (12) in all of their respective teams' games.

"He works hard," said Beniers about his new linemate. "He does the little things right. And he has a great shot and can make plays."

Beniers said he enjoys playing with his linemates, admiring their hockey IQs, a must-have trait for GM Ron Francis and his hockey operations group when evaluating prospects and pros alike.

"'Karts' is obviously a really smart player," said Beniers, "and 'Ebs' is one of the smartest guys I've played with. When you are able to have that and have good communication and everyone has bought into what the plan is, it gels together."

From Hakstol's point of view, the trio's chemistry has been faster than some lines when they are put together.

"It's a combination of all three of them," said Hakstol. "It's not about Ebs and Matty bringing in Karts. Karts is jumping in and doing his part and fitting in with the chemistry on that line. And that's something you don't see all that often, the chemistry grows that quickly. But the parts that [Kartye] has brought are very important and very effective."

Eberle has joked on-air with ROOT SPORTS' Piper Shaw that he started his hockey career as a center but wasn't good enough to do it in his pro development track, switching to wing. The veteran is underselling his abilities, but it does amplify the steep challenge of Beniers deftly handling the center position in his first full NHL season, enduring a midseason injury and some stretches of games where the points weren't coming but he was still contributing in all zones of play. Beniers is admired league-wide for his defensive skills as much as his offense. He's also worked hard all season in extra sessions to improve his faceoff technique.

"He's handled everything very well," said Hakstol Sunday during a media availability. "He's handled the ups and downs very well. We'll look back and evaluate [Beniers' year] after the season. Right now, it's all about what he's going to be able to do tomorrow to help us win Game 7.

"We know he's going to be up to that task and challenge. He'll be ready to do whatever he needs to do for his teammates. That's one of the things that sets him apart as a good young player in this league. You're seeing Johnston on the other side, also a really good young player that's stepping to the plate. Matty's done that all year for us. I'm sure he's going to be excited for the opportunity tomorrow."