Benning joined the Maple Leafs after being traded for the very first time in his career on Wednesday

Matt Benning said he had an idea there was a chance he could be traded by the San Jose Sharks, as the team aimed to give younger players more ice time. Still, he was "surprised" to find out he was actually on the move.

"At 30-years-old, this is the first time we've been traded. That was a new experience for me. But, you know, happy to be here and help out in whatever way I can," Benning shared after his first practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.

On Wednesday, the Maple Leafs acquired Benning along with a 2025 third-round draft pick and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick in exchange for defenseman Timothy Liljegren.

The defenseman took an early 8 a.m. flight the next morning, arriving just in time to catch the Leafs' 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken at Scotiabank Arena.

Benning skated on an extra defensive pair alongside Philippe Myers, a familiar face from their time together with the Nashville Predators during the 2021-22 NHL season. He will join the Leafs for their upcoming two-game road trip against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday and the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.

It remains unclear if or when Benning will get game time with the Leafs. With defenseman Jani Hakanpaa currently on a conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies and expected to rejoin the roster soon, reports suggest the Leafs might flip Benning to clear space on their 23-man roster when Hakanpaa and Dewar are ready to return from LTIR.

"Whatever comes, comes, it's, you know, you got to make it hard on the decision-making to kind of keep me here and get to play," Benning said. "If we get enough to get in there and do well with it, that's all I can control."

Benning’s family stayed back in Edmonton, where he’s from, as he navigates this uncertain period in his career. In the meantime, he’s focused on using his new surroundings to work on his game and prepare for an opportunity to play.

"It's a good opportunity to get to know some of the guys and, you know, practice and work on my game and, you know, do whatever I can."

After his first practice, Benning entered the Leafs’ locker room, where Ryan Reaves asked if he had a nickname yet.

With "Benny" already claimed by Simon Benoit, a former Sharks teammate, Steven Lorentz, stepped in.

"We call him 'Benzo.'"