Tim Stutzle will be a little extra weary of the Maple Leafs this season; here's why
With the 2023-24 season set to commence in just over a month, the excitement is increasing with every passing day. The Leafs have a number of fresh faces coming into this season, including the likes of Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Reaves, John Klingberg and Martin Jones. It's the most recent addition, however, that may have one member of the Ottawa Senators shaking in his skates.
The Leafs recently signed 24-year-old Simon Benoit to a 1-year deal worth $775K. Why should this concern anyone in Ottawa? Well, because of a situation that had occurred last season between Benoit and Sens star Tim Stutzle, where Stutzle delivered a butt-end shot to the face of Benoit following a battle along the boards.
While true that players do try to leave everything out on the ice, it's also true that players take other players' numbers. Stutzle has not only built a bit of a reputation as a diver around the league, but he's also taken quite a few cheap shots on opposing players, Benoit being one of them.
With Benoit's former Anaheim Ducks only playing the Senators once or twice per season, the former hasn't had much of an opportunity to exact his pound of flesh from the latter. Now that Benoit resides in Toronto, you can bet your bottom dollar that he'll be looking to lay out Stutzle with every opportunity he gets. Unfortunately, as a depth defenseman, we can't be sure as to how much ice time Benoit will actually see this season - including in games against Ottawa. However, if the two do find themselves sharing an ice surface, you can bank on the fact that Benoit will be looking for number 18 out there.
| POLL | ||
3 SEPTEMBRE | 236 ANSWERS Tim Stutzle will be a little extra weary of the Maple Leafs this season; here's why Will Simon Benoit lay out Tim Stutzle this season? | ||
| Yes | 112 | 47.5 % |
| No | 54 | 22.9 % |
| I don't know, but please let it happen | 70 | 29.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
