Kraken Re-Sign Ben Meyers, Ryan Winterton to Extensions
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Seattle Kraken center Ben Meyers (59) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images [/caption]
Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton are sticking around. Coming out of the Olympic break, the Seattle Kraken announced contract extensions for both forwards, each of whom has impressed in bottom-six roles in their first full-time stints with the club this season, in a press release on Tuesday.
Meyers, 27, agreed to a two-year, $2 million contract ($1 million AAV), lasting through the 2027-28 season. After starting the season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Meyers was called up to Seattle for a nine-game stint from Oct. 21-Nov. 13, tallying three assists before being sent back down to Coachella Valley. Following the reassignment, Meyers authored an eight-game point streak (seven goals and four assists) before returning to Seattle on Dec. 10, where he’s played since.
In 31 NHL games this season, Meyers has five goals and 11 points. Since his last recall in December, the Delano, Minn. native has carved out a key role on Seattle’s fourth line, displaying good chemistry and production with Winterton, Tye Kartye and Jacob Melanson.
"Ben is an integral part of our team," Kraken general manager Jason Botterill said in Tuesday’s statement. "He's a versatile player who plays with passion. We're happy to have him signed for another two years."
An undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota, where he was named a Hobey Baker Finalist in his final season in 2021-22 after putting up 17 goals and 41 points in 34 games for the Golden Gophers, Meyers signed with the Colorado Avalanche. He scored four goals in 39 games with Colorado in 2022-23, but ultimately was unable to find a permanent role for himself. Following a short stint with the Anaheim Ducks organization in 2023-24, Meyers joined the Kraken organization.
It appears he’s finally found a fit at the NHL level, and agreed to commit to a future in Seattle as opposed to testing the open market this summer, when he was set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Meanwhile, Winterton, 22, was going to be a restricted free agent this offseason, which significantly decreased his likelihood of leaving for another organization this summer, but the Kraken decided to take care of business ahead of time.
The 2021 third-round pick is also signed through the 2027-28 season with a two-year, $2.25 million extension ($1.125 million AAV). After appearing in 21 total games with the Kraken across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, Winterton made the team out of training camp this year and has 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 54 games this year.
"Ryan has taken big strides as a member of the Kraken this season," Botterill said in Tuesday’s statement. "He's been able to carve out a role on this team with his speed and strong two-way game. We're excited to have him under contract through the 2027-28 season."
With those two forwards now under contract for the next two-and-a-half years, Seattle has six pending free agents — five unrestricted — remaining on the roster. The lower AAV for both Meyers and Winterton made their extensions pretty clear-cut.
Between now and the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6, the Kraken will have decisions to make on some of their higher-priced players: Jaden Schwartz ($5.5 million AAV), Jordan Eberle ($4.75 million), Jamie Oleksiak ($4.6 million) and Eeli Tolvanen ($3.475 million). Goaltender Matt Murray ($1 million) and forward Jacob Melanson ($826k) are also set to be free agents, but the former is on injured reserve and the third goalie while the latter will be a less complicated case as an RFA.
Entering Wednesday, when the Kraken face the Dallas Stars on the road as NHL play resumes following the Olympic break, Seattle sits third in the Pacific Division with 63 points in the standings. It’s a tight race for the teams between Vegas at the top (68 points) and Los Angeles (60 points), which sits three points outside the second wild-card spot in the West.
Given their position in the standings, it’s hard to imagine the Kraken entering “sell mode” before the deadline. Additionally, Schwartz, Eberle and Oleksiak each have no-trade clauses of varying degrees. Barring a significant player-for-player type of trade to bolster the current roster, Botterill and the rest of Seattle’s management will have to decide whether or not they want to secure any of those players beyond this season, or simply focusing on the upcoming playoff race while addressing their futures in the offseason.
