Story Summary
Matty Beniers believes a new home routine is helping him find a healthier balance during the Seattle Kraken season. The 23-year-old centre is sharing a house with teammates Mackie Samoskevich and Berkly Catton, and says their company has made it easier to step away from hockey after games rather than dwelling on an individual disappointment.
That matters for a player still measuring himself against the standard of his 2022-23 Calder Trophy-winning campaign. Beniers recorded 57 points in 80 games in his first full NHL season, then produced 50 points in 82 games last season. Through 10 games this season, he has two goals and two assists as Seattle have opened 6-3-1.
The three roommates are contributing to an encouraging offensive opening for the Kraken. Samoskevich has four goals and five points in nine games following his June trade from the Florida Panthers, while Catton has seven points in 10 games. Beniers, Samoskevich and Jared McCann have formed Seattle’s top line, giving the club an effective combination around its young centre.
Key Facts
- Matty Beniers has four points, comprising two goals and two assists, in 10 games for the 6-3-1 Seattle Kraken.
- Beniers won the Calder Trophy after posting 57 points, including 24 goals and 33 assists, in 80 games during his first full NHL season in 2022-23.
- Beniers recorded 50 points, with 20 goals and 30 assists, in 82 games last season.
- Mackie Samoskevich has five points, including four goals, in nine games for Seattle this season.
- Seattle acquired Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers on June 21 for a first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional second-round selection in 2027.
- Berkly Catton has two goals and five assists in 10 games during his second Kraken season.
- Seattle are averaging 3.70 goals per game, the sixth-highest rate in the NHL.
- Beniers, Samoskevich and left wing Jared McCann have been Seattle’s effective top line.
- Beniers was named an alternate captain when Jordan Eberle became Kraken captain before the 2024-25 season.
IHM Discussion
The appeal of the arrangement is not merely that three young players are enjoying an off-ice friendship. Beniers describes it as a practical means of breaking the post-game cycle that can develop when a player lives alone and replays mistakes. His point is not that standards should disappear; rather, he says the challenge is to retain those standards without allowing one game to dictate the next.
That distinction fits Beniers’ role. He is an alternate captain and a centre expected to contribute at both ends of the rink. Coach Lane Lambert has singled out Beniers’ responsibility and commitment to a 200-foot game, while Beniers has spoken of continuing to develop offensively without compromising that foundation.
The reunion with Samoskevich also gives the household an established connection. The pair spent a year together at the University of Michigan before becoming first-round selections in the 2021 NHL Draft, with Seattle taking Beniers second overall and Florida selecting Samoskevich 24th. Catton, Seattle’s eighth overall pick in 2024, adds another young forward already producing at NHL level.
Their early returns do not make the living arrangement a standalone explanation for Seattle’s scoring, but the players’ own comments show why it has value to them: it creates separation from the game, even while placing them alongside teammates who understand the demands of it.
Why It Matters
Beniers’ individual progress remains significant to Seattle. His Calder season was a major part of the Kraken reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 2022-23, and he remains central to the club’s attempt to return there.
Seattle’s offensive start has been supported by more than one player, but the production from Beniers, Samoskevich and Catton gives the team meaningful contributions from a young group. Beniers’ ability to maintain his two-way responsibilities while building on his early offensive total is particularly important because he is operating in a leading role alongside McCann.
For Samoskevich, the trade has quickly created an opportunity alongside a former college teammate. For Catton, the arrangement places him in a daily environment with two players of a similar age who are carrying NHL responsibilities of their own. The common benefit is routine: the trio can leave the rink together, reset, and return prepared for the next day.
Mini Q&A
Who are Matty Beniers’ roommates in Seattle?
Beniers shares a house with Kraken teammates Mackie Samoskevich and Berkly Catton.
How has Beniers started the season?
Beniers has two goals and two assists in 10 games for Seattle.
How did Mackie Samoskevich join the Kraken?
Seattle acquired Samoskevich from Florida on June 21 for a 2026 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 second-round pick.
What line is Beniers playing on?
Beniers has formed Seattle’s effective top line with Samoskevich and left wing Jared McCann.
Coach Mark Comment
The strongest element in Beniers’ early-season picture is the balance between accountability and recovery. Centres asked to play a full-ice game must process mistakes quickly because the next shift can demand a defensive read, a puck-support detail and an attacking decision in rapid succession. Beniers’ emphasis on moving on, supported by a trusted off-ice environment, is consistent with the discipline required to keep that game reliable.
IHM Final View
Beniers has not presented his living arrangement as a cure-all, but he has clearly identified its value: he is less likely to be alone with a frustrating game and more able to reset with teammates who share the same daily demands. With Samoskevich and Catton also contributing early, the Kraken have a young group whose connection is showing both away from the rink and in Seattle’s productive start.