Jason Robertson Rejecting Trade Set Off Seattle Kraken's Matty Beniers
Jason Robertson blocked a trade to the Seattle Kraken earlier this offseason, and don't think the Kraken dressing room didn't notice.
Kraken forward Matty Beniers spoke to the media on Friday and opened up about Robertson's trade block. Beniers didn't shy away from the fact it pissed people off in Seattle, and something the entire team will put on their shoulder this season. "Yeah, absolutely," Beniers told The Athletic's Mark Lazerus. "There's a tough rep about Seattle because it's rainy, and maybe the city. But guys love it in Seattle - the guys that are there. When the sun's out, it's beautiful. There's so much nature; there are a lot of things to do. So yeah, it obviously doesn't feel good when you're on a team and you try to get someone else and they don't want to come. But at the same time, if you don't want to be here, we don't want you, anyway."
The Kraken were willing to pay $15 million AAV on a new long-term extension, but Robertson didn't want to sign to play in Seattle long term. At the time, the deal would have made Robertson the second highest paid player in the league, and instead, settled for a one-year deal at $12 million with the Stars.
The trade rumors won't be slowing down anytime soon, and it's very likely Robertson gets moved ahead of the trade deadline in March.
For now, Beniers is trying to focus on the Kraken, but there's no doubt his team took the news personally. "It's up to them; it's their decision," Beniers said. "Every team, you want guys that want to be there. You don't want to bring someone in that doesn't want to be there. It just won't work out."
For now, Beniers is trying to focus on the Kraken, but there's no doubt his team took the news personally. "It's up to them; it's their decision," Beniers said. "Every team, you want guys that want to be there. You don't want to bring someone in that doesn't want to be there. It just won't work out."