Overview of Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 662: Featuring Matty Beniers & The Yak
This episode mixes the usual Spittin’ Chiclets chaos with a strong interview from Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers. The first half is dominated by a live crossover with The Yak, including a deep autopsy of Whit’s Family Feud disaster, while the back half turns into a wide-ranging hockey conversation covering Beniers’ offseason training, Seattle’s progress, Michigan hockey, the NHL’s changing contract landscape, and some fun summer stories.
Key Moments and Running Themes
Whit’s Family Feud meltdown
- The crew spends a long stretch joking about Whit’s now-infamous Family Feud performance.
- Whit explains that he pressed the buzzer too early and then blanked under pressure.
- He repeatedly compares it to other public failures, joking that it was:
- worse than the beer-chug/“saber sword” moment,
- a product of being overwhelmed by the lights,
- and another example of “the man in the arena” taking a public beating.
- The Yak crew, especially Ben Mintz, jumps in to roast him, but also defends him a bit by saying the whole team underperformed.
Summer life, Pink Whitney, and Canadian banter
- The hosts riff on Pink Whitney season, summer hockey, lake/beach/course drinking, and the product’s presence across Canada.
- There’s a running joke about tariffs and how politics supposedly impacted availability north of the border.
- The episode keeps the tone loose and absurd, with the usual barstool-style off-topic detours.
Jeff’s birthday and the Canadian road trip
- Biz talks about Jeff’s 40th birthday party, which he describes as a big success.
- The party was held at a former strip-club/supper-club venue, and around 140 people showed up.
- Biz also recounts a long stretch of travel and hanging out with friends across Canada, including Stampede, PEI, and Victoria.
Wheeling Nailers / team ownership talk
- A segment turns into a discussion about the Wheeling Nailers potentially needing help.
- The joke escalates into whether The Yak or Barstool folks could somehow buy or save the team.
- They note that in the ECHL there are ownership rules that make multi-team ownership possible, which leads to more joking about money, hockey business, and Barstool “owning everything.”
NHL News and Hockey Talk
Patrick Kane back to Chicago
- The crew reacts strongly to Patrick Kane returning to the Chicago Blackhawks on a big contract.
- Their take:
- It’s a great fit culturally and historically.
- Chicago is where Kane belongs.
- The move gives Connor Bedard a mentor and another elite veteran to learn from.
- They debate whether Kane’s deal is too rich or actually justified given his legacy, influence, and current production.
Jason Robertson contract situation
- The most serious hockey discussion is about Jason Robertson and his contract standoff in Dallas.
- The panel debates:
- whether Robertson should have taken the reported huge extension,
- whether he’s aiming to hit unrestricted free agency for maximum leverage,
- and whether teammates should be frustrated by how the situation is dragging on.
- Their conclusion: Robertson has every right to maximize his value, but it’s still a tough look if Dallas offered him a monster deal and he turned it down.
John Marino to Utah
- The group also praises John Marino for getting a strong deal with Utah.
- They frame it as a great example of a player timing the market correctly and getting paid at the right moment.
Torts, coaching, and the next-month-in-the-season theory
- They reflect on John Tortorella’s firing in Philadelphia and joke that he should only coach teams for the final month of the season.
- The idea: bring in Torts when a team is underachieving, let him bark, and see if he can spark a late push.
- It’s presented half-seriously as a new hockey management model.
Hughes brothers, clubs, and celebrity treatment
- Another memorable tangent is about Jack and Quinn Hughes being seen trying to get into a club and waiting outside like regular guys.
- The crew is incredulous that two of the NHL’s biggest stars were made to stand in line.
- They also talk about the Hugheses walking out Morgan Wallen and how special it is when young stars get pulled into big summer moments.
Matty Beniers Interview Highlights
Matty Beniers joins for a very good, open conversation. He comes across as thoughtful, funny, and grounded.
Summer training and Boston hockey culture
- Beniers says his summer has been good and that he enjoys being home with family and friends.
- He explains that he trains in the Boston area, where there are now a lot more NHL guys than there used to be.
- His training/skating group includes a strong network of Boston-area players, and the summer hockey scene is much larger than it once was.
Pickleball, golf, and off-ice competition
- He and Smitty are very competitive in random summer sports:
- pickleball
- softball
- golf
- He admits Smitty beat him badly in pickleball.
- He says he’s more of a “do the work” guy than a chirper, and he generally stays out of unnecessary drama.
Michigan hockey and the college-to-pro transition
- Beniers talks about Michigan with obvious affection.
- Key points:
- The program is elite, huge, and well-supported.
- The culture, facilities, and treatment of players are top-tier.
- Michigan’s mix of serious hockey and strong team bonding helped shape him.
- He says the team was unusually close, with lots of postgame hangouts and real social chemistry.
- He also discusses how college hockey has grown and how the new CHL-to-NCAA pipeline could reshape the landscape.
Seattle Kraken growth and organization
- He praises the Kraken organization, the rink, and how well players are treated.
- He notes that Seattle is a good sports city, but still relatively new to hockey.
- He says the organization is investing heavily in community outreach and in growing the sport locally.
- He also admits the team’s early playoff success may have complicated long-term building, but he remains optimistic about the direction.
Role on the ice and areas of improvement
- Beniers identifies himself as a two-way center first, but says he wants to become more dangerous offensively.
- Areas he wants to improve:
- more shooting,
- more one-on-one offense,
- better power-play production,
- more faceoff growth,
- and continuing to get bigger/stronger without losing speed.
- He says he lost weight during the season and is focused on adding functional muscle.
Contract, signing bonus, and money talk
- The conversation briefly turns to his contract structure and the reality of being paid in bonuses.
- Beniers is modest about money and says he relies on advisors.
- The crew jokes around his car and watch, but the tone stays light.
Teammates and leadership
- He speaks highly of Seattle veterans like:
- Adam Larsson
- Chandler Stephenson
- Brandon Montour
- and others
- He credits veteran presence for helping the team grow and giving younger players a roadmap.
- He also talks warmly about Yanni Gourde and other teammates as strong personalities in the room.
Matty’s view on the season and the future
- He felt the team had stretches where they were really good but couldn’t sustain it.
- He thinks the Kraken are close, especially with a stable coaching plan.
- He sounds confident, but not cocky, about improving individually and as a team.
Noah Kahan and summer plans
- Beniers is a big Noah Kahan fan.
- He mentions trading messages about concert tickets and a possible sandbagger-style crossover.
- He also has a golf trip planned, including time with the Fantilli family and other Michigan-connected friends.
Notable Takeaways
- Whit’s Family Feud moment is now firmly part of Chiclets lore.
- Patrick Kane in Chicago is viewed as both nostalgic and strategically smart.
- Jason Robertson’s contract situation is the most important current hockey business story discussed.
- Matty Beniers came off as mature, funny, and very committed to getting stronger and more productive.
- The Kraken sound like a team with real infrastructure, but still one trying to establish a true hockey culture in a newer market.
Final Impression
This episode is a strong mix of:
- comedy,
- hockey media chaos,
- and a genuinely insightful player interview.
If you want the best single takeaway: Matty Beniers looks like a player who’s only scratching the surface, and the Seattle Kraken seem to believe the same.