Simon Benoit joined the Maple Leafs this summer after the Ducks did not tender him a qualifying offer.
Simon Benoit joined the Maple Leafs this summer after the Ducks did not tender him a qualifying offer.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Toronto Maple Leafs wanted a big physical defenseman they could trust. And it appears they have found that in Simon Benoit.
Although it wasn't the smoothest start.
Signed to a one-year, $775,000 contract on August 28, the 25-year-old missed the beginning portion of training camp with back spasms. When he did make it to the ice, the defenseman took a pair do careless penalties in his first pre-season game.
But as injuries on defense began to accumulate, Benoit got another chance to prove himself to his new club and has since brought a level of consistency that Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe has grown to appreciate.
"That’s always been an aspect of my game," Benoit said. "He knows what I bring. A simple player that is physical and hard to play against."
Benoit waited for his opportunity and began the season with the Toronto Marlies. As injuries began to pile up on defense, Benoit wasn't even the next man up. It took injuries to Conor Timmins, Timothy Liljegren and later, John Klingberg and Mark Giordano for Benoit to find a rhythm with the club and be used consistently.
With Klingberg shut down for the season with hip surgery, Benoit has stepped into the an everyday role. Most recently, he's been playing top-four minutes that were set aside at the start of the season for his former Anaheim Ducks teammate.
It doesn't hurt that at 6-foot-3, Benoit is a bigger and more physical defenseman. He brings the type of size and physical play that Brad Treliving desired when he took over the GM duties on May 31.
“Generally speaking, he’s just done a good job of limiting anything against. [He] really stabilized our group that way," Keefe said of Benoit.
Benoit played in 78 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season and is set to take on his former team for the first time since they elected not to tender the 25-year-old a qualifying offer. Skating in the second pair alongside Jake McCabe, Benoit has helped fill the size and physical element that was missed when Luke Schenn (now with the Nashville Predators) departed for free agency
"To me, I think he just continues to get better and if he makes some mistakes he’s working hard on it and we think he’ll continue to grow within our team," Keefe said.
In 21 games this season, Benoit has a 5-on-5 expected-goals rating of 53 percent, per NaturalStatTrick.com while averaging 14:58 in ice time.
Lineup Notes
The only question for the Maple Leafs that remains is who will start in goal. Dennis Hildeby, who has been called up to backup Martin Jones, could make his NHL debut, but Keefe left the door open for the club to go with Jones again after a shutout performance against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Ducks will start Lukas Dostal in goal for Anaheim
Where to watch
In Canada, the game will be available across the country on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. In the Ducks' broadcast region, the game will be available to watch and stream on Bally Sports West. For the rest of the United States, the game will stream on ESPN+. For the rest of the world, the game will stream on the national carrier of NHL Live.
Broadcast starts at 9 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. PT.
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