Maple Leafs sign fan-favorite defensesman to extension
Benoit, 25, has performed a bigger function than anticipated in Toronto this season and has shortly turn into a fan favourite. Few anticipated the Quebec native to even make the NHL after he went undrafted and did not safe an NHL deal when his time in main junior hockey with the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes resulted in 2018. He started his skilled profession on a minor league contract with AHL San Diego in 2018-19, impressing with a defensively sound rookie season and incomes an entry-level contract from the Geese close to the tip of the season.
It was nonetheless some time earlier than he’d make his NHL debut, receiving a few quick remembers in 2019-20 that didn’t lead to any main league motion. His first shot got here close to the tip of the 2020-21 marketing campaign, the place he impressed with a constructive shot-attempt share at even energy in heavy defensive utilization whereas logging 17:12 per recreation throughout six appearances.
Benoit didn’t make the Geese out of camp in 2021 however wasn’t within the minors for lengthy, breaking onto the NHL scene for a lot of the season and notching a objective and 4 assists in 53 showings. His possession numbers dragged barely however have been nonetheless above acceptable for a depth defender on a rebuilding and defensively challenged staff. He then earned a qualifying provide from Anaheim, who re-signed him to a one-year, two-way deal for 2022-23.
Final season, accidents pressured Benoit right into a top-four function with the Geese, who stay the worst defensive staff of the wage cap period, permitting 4.09 objectives per recreation. Unsurprisingly, Benoit’s boxcar stats learn as among the worst within the league, recording 10 factors and a -29 ranking in 78 video games whereas taking part in over 19 minutes per recreation, typically saddled with the defensive duty of overlaying for the reasonably one-dimensional John Klingberg at even energy as his companion. His possession metrics struggled in consequence, though possibly not as a lot as anticipated. He logged a 41.4 CF% at even energy, which was solely two factors worse than his off-ice CF% regardless of 63.8% of his zone begins coming within the defensive finish.
Nonetheless, with Anaheim seeking to make room for a deep group of younger protection prospects like Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger, they opted to not qualify Benoit final summer time and let him attain unrestricted free company, the place the Leafs picked him up on a one-year, league-minimum deal, additionally the primary one-way contract of his profession. Nonetheless, most anticipated Benoit to function the eighth or ninth possibility on the group depth chart behind different depth defenders like Klingberg, who additionally signed a one-year cope with Toronto over the summer time, veteran Mark Giordano and Conor Timmins.
He did find yourself starting the season with AHL Toronto, clearing waivers close to the tip of coaching camp. Simply two days later, an early-season rash of accidents over the Toronto blue line pressured Benoit’s first recall of the season. After bouncing up and down between leagues over the following two months, he was completely recalled to the Leafs on Nov. 27 and hasn’t regarded again.
With Klingberg’s season ending prematurely resulting from a lingering hip harm and Giordano, Timmins and Timothy Liljegren all lacking important time, Benoit has made 54 appearances for the Leafs, scoring as soon as and including 4 assists. His even-strength CF% has rebounded to 49.3 and he’s managed possession high quality at one of the best price of his profession, posting a 50.3 xGF%. Whereas a lower in ice time and a few simpler matchups definitely assist, he’s been on the ice for 0.54 anticipated objectives in opposition to per recreation this 12 months in comparison with 0.96 final season with Anaheim. He additionally leads Toronto with 205 hits.
Benoit has continued to consider down the stretch with the Leafs nonetheless biking by accidents on protection, even skating in a top-pairing function alongside Jake McCabe in Thursday night time’s 5-1 win over the Capitals. His function within the postseason as soon as gamers Liljegren, Joel Edmundson and Morgan Rielly are able to return from their accidents is much less clear, although.
The bodily 6-foot-3 blue-liner now will get reputable stability for the primary time in his skilled profession and can proceed in a depth function for Toronto till his deal expires in 2027. He’ll be a UFA upon expiry.