Benoit will serve as an extra defenseman as the Leafs carry 21 players on their active roster.
Benoit will serve as an extra defenseman as the Leafs carry 21 players on their active roster.
The Maple Leafs will carry 21 players on their active roster and have chosen to use their one 'extra' on a defenseman.
The club called up defenseman Simon Benoit from the Toronto Marlies shortly after forward Bobby McMann cleared waivers after 2 p.m. ET.
McMann was cleared of his adductor injury that stemmed back to last season and was placed on waivers on Monday. He'll report to the Toronto Marlies where the Alberta native enjoyed a successful 2022-23 in which he scored 21 goals and added eight assists in 30 games.
The Maple Leafs signed Benoit to a one-year, $775,000 contract on Aug. 28. The 25-year-old became an unrestricted free agent after the Anaheim Ducks elected not to tender the Quebec native a qualifying offer.
The 6-foot-4 defenseman had three goals and seven assists in 78 games with the Ducks in 2022-23. He opened training camp on the sidelines with back spasms but later saw some pre-season action. He had a hard time staying out of the penalty box, recording three minor penalties in one game against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 5.
The Maple Leafs go out on their longest road trip of the season next week beginning Oct. 19 against the Florida Panthers. It's seen that an extra defenseman was preferred to an extra forward in this particular scenario.
Given his size, Benoit represents one of the 'Bigger D' Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has said he likes from his defensemen.
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