Beniers was born on November 5, 2002, in Hingham, Massachusetts,[1] to parents Bob Beniers and Christine Maglione. His father played collegiate football at Cornell University while his mother was an understudy for A Chorus Line on Broadway before enrolling in law school.[2]
Beniers was committed to play ice hockey for Harvard; however, after the Ivy League cancelled their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he enrolled at Michigan in August 2020.[5][6] Beniers began his collegiate career for the Michigan Wolverines during the 2020–21 season. He recorded 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games during his freshman season. He led the conference in on-ice rating with a +21, ranking him eighth nationally. He led first-time NHL Draft-eligible NCAA players in goals, goals per game (0.42), and shots on goal per game. His 24 points ranked third in the league in freshmen scoring and fourth nationally.[7] He recorded his first career goal in his first game of the season.[8]
On February 26, 2021, he recorded his first career hat-trick in a game against Arizona State.[9] He was subsequently named the Big Ten Third Star of the Week for the week ending March 1.[10] On March 5, he recorded his first career four-point game, with one goal and three assists in a game against Minnesota. He was subsequently named the Big Ten Third Star of the Week for the week ending March 9.[11] Following the season, he was named to the All-Big TenFreshman Team and the College Hockey News All-Rookie Team.[12][13]
Beniers entered the 2021 NHL Entry Draft as one of the consensus top prospects, and was ultimately selected second overall by the Seattle Kraken, becoming the expansion team's first-ever draft selection.[18][19] On April 10, 2022, Beniers signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kraken.[20][21] He had been uncertain whether he would turn professional or return to the University of Michigan for another year, but ultimately opted to sign, following discussions with his family, Kraken general manager Ron Francis, and new teammate Ryan Donato.[22] Making his NHL debut on April 12, two days after his contract signing, Beniers recorded his first NHL assist in a 5–3 loss to the Calgary Flames. He described being "excited about how all right I felt" during his first appearance in the league.[23] Beniers scored his first NHL goal in an April 16 win at home against the New Jersey Devils.[24] He ended the season with three goals and nine points through 10 NHL games.[1]
Beniers battling for possession of the puck against Stars forward Tyler Seguin in May 2023
On August 20, 2024, the Kraken and Beniers agreed to a 7-year, $50 million contract extension, with Seattle citing Beniers as a cornerstone of the franchise.[29]
Beniers represented the United States at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded two goals in seven games and won a bronze medal. Beniers represented the United States at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he was the youngest player on the roster, scoring one goal and two assists and averaging 17:05 of ice time in seven games as a second-line center, helping the United States win gold.[30]
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