When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Simon Benoit at the end of August, many saw him as nothing more than a depth signing. He began the season with the Toronto Marlies after having a rough training camp and battling through injury. Since being recalled in November, however, Benoit has not only become a mainstay on the blueline but has found himself in the top-four alongside Jake McCabe.
Benoit, a pending restricted free agent, signed a one-year, $775,000 contract last offseason and revealed to The Athletic's Josh Kloke this week that he is hopeful to get something long-term done in Toronto.
Benoit loves Toronto and Toronto loves him. Thanks to his physical, do anything to help the team mentality, Benoit quickly endeared himself to the Leafs' faithful. While he may not be a suitable long-term solution in the top-four, he has certainly shown that he is a more than capable 3rd pairing defenseman on a good team. Benoit adds an element of physicality and ferocity to the lineup that is needed come playoff time and it would be awesome to see the 25-year-old ink an extension that would keep him in Toronto well beyond this season.
