The Leafs announced this morning that they have signed defenseman Simon Benoit to a one-year contract worth $775,000 for the upcoming season. Benoit played last season with Anaheim and adds the size and tenacity that Brad Treliving has been looking to add to the Leafs' blueline.
The 6'3, 208-pound defenseman was a teammate of John Klingberg last season and registered 128 blocks and 216 hits last season while also adding 10 points and 60 PIMs in 78 games. He's a left-shot defenseman and likely won't be an every night player in Toronto with the likes of Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe and Mark Giordano ahead of him on the depth chart.
The 24-year-old was initially signed by the San Diego Gulls in 2018 as a free agent and has spent his entire NHL career with the Ducks organization. In the three years since he made his NHL debut, Benoit has played in 137 games, where he accumulated 15 points, 176 blocks and 404 hits. Benoit will be a depth option for the Leafs in case of injury, but could find himself in the lineup on spot duty against some of the more physical and heavier teams throughout the season.
