Bounce Back Candidates: Kraken Center vs. Rangers Winger
To reach their goals as an organization, both the New York Rangers and the Seattle Kraken have players they are banking on taking the next step.
Looking back at the 2024-2025 season, the New York Rangers and Seattle Kraken both underachieved. They both missed the playoffs for differing reasons, but the commonality for both franchises is they are trying to take the next step this upcoming campaign. The Kraken must contend with a powerful Pacific Division group, while the Rangers try to re-establish dominance in a wide open Metropolitan Division.
To reach their goals as an organization, both the Kraken and the Rangers have players they are banking on taking the next step. For New York, it’s winger Alexis Lafreniere, the former number one overall pick. For Seattle, it’s top-line center Matty Beniers. Both players regressed statistically last season and each scored less than 50 points. They are two of the top options in their respective lineups, but which player will have a better revenge tour in the upcoming season?
Beniers is entering his fourth full season in the NHL, meaning this is the year for him to put it all out there on the ice. He’s a leader in Seattle, already an alternate captain at age 22. After a sophomoric slump filled 2023-2024, Beniers pushed through an up-and-down third campaign last year. He finished with 20 goals and 23 assists in 82 games.
When Beniers was able to play his best, however, he looked like a potentially elite, two-way center. His playmaking skill set and creativity continues to improve, and he even began to see time on the penalty kill toward the end of the 2024-2025 campaign.
