The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have come to terms with defenceman Simon Benoit, as he signs on a three-year extension, worth $1.35M annually. The deal carries the defender through the 2026-27 season.
Toronto signs Simon Benoit to 3x$1.35M extension
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 29, 2024
Leafs Simon Benoit Signs New Deal
Benoit went undrafted and was brought into the Anaheim Ducks organization back in 2018 by signing an AHL deal with the San Diego Gulls. He signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Ducks on March 4th, 2019. In 2022-23 with the Anaheim Ducks, Benoit scored three goals and added seven assists for 10 points in 70 games while logging 19:21 minutes of ice time per game. This was good for fourth amongst defenceman with the Ducks. He also had 60 minutes in penalties. This season for the Leafs has been a successful one. In 54 games played with the buds, he logs 16:55 of ice time, and has established himself as a reliable third-pairing guy. Brad Treliving had inked Benoit in the summer, on a one-year, $775K deal.
Leafs Shoring Up Their Defensive Depth
Benoit has had an up-and-down career thus far. He was outstanding in the AHL and worked his way up the depth chart for the Ducks before eventually making his NHL debut on April 28th, 2021. He earned himself a full-time gig in the show during the 2021-22 season, appearing in 53 games and playing a simple defensively sound game during his rookie campaign. However, things didn’t go as well for Benoit in his sophomore season as he seemed out of place at times for the Ducks. However, this was the case for many of the Ducks as they went through their worst season in franchise history. Benoit became someone the Ducks relied upon due to their lack of depth at the position. This exposed Benoit at times as he was miscast in the top four. He had played most of his minutes next to John Klingberg.
Benoit has been a reliable defender for Sheldon Keefe‘s defensive squad. The Leafs blueline has been generally banged up, and his 54 games played, ranks fourth on the team amongst defencemen. Going into the post-season this gives Benoit the ultimate confidence boost. The boost being what he is doing is great and probably required for the Leafs depth. Moreover, Benoit has been the epitome of a utility guy. He has been paired with multiple partners with the Leafs in 2023-24. He has played over a 100 minutes with each of Conor Timmins, William Lagesson, and mostly with Jake McCabe. If the Leafs are to battle in any long, seven-game series in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, Benoit will be a huge part of that equation.
Main Photo: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
