Simon Benoit
Born (1998-09-19) September 19, 1998
Laval, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Toronto Maple Leafs
Anaheim Ducks
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2018present

Simon Benoit (born September 19, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Benoit played as a youth Ligue de hockey M18 AAA du Québec (LHMU18AAA) with Laval-Montréal Rousseau Royal before he was drafted by the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the eighth round, 129th overall, of the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft.[1]

Benoit with the Anaheim Ducks in 2023

Benoit played three seasons in the QMJHL with the Cataractes before he was signed as an undrafted free agent to a one-year contract with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL), the primary affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks on September 25, 2018.[2] In his first professional year with the Gulls in the 2018–19 season, Benoit impressed by leading the Gulls in Plus/Minus with +16 and collecting 2 goals and 16 points through 65 regular season games. On March 8, 2019, he was signed by the Ducks to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2019–20 season.[3]

During the 2020–21 season, while in his third year with the San Diego Gulls and adding dependable defensive play on the blueline, Benoit was recalled by the Ducks to make his NHL debut on April 29, 2021.[4] While appearing on the Ducks third defensive pairing, Benoit went scoreless with 12 minutes time on ice in a 3–2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.[5] In the following 2021–22 season, on October 28, 2021, Benoit scored his first NHL goal in his eighth game with the Ducks, a game tying goal, against the Buffalo Sabres in a 4–3 OT loss.[6] Benoit played his first full season with the Ducks during the 2021–22 season.[7]

Having played five seasons within the Anaheim Ducks organization, as a pending restricted free agent Benoit was not tendered a qualifying offer by the team and was released as a unrestricted free agent.[8] He was signed on August 28, 2023 to a one-year, $775,000 contract by the Toronto Maple Leafs.[9] Benoit failed to the make the team out of training camp and was placed on waivers. After going unclaimed, Benoit was assigned to the Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.[10] After Timothy Liljegren was injured, Benoit was recalled by the Maple Leafs on November 4.[11] He made his debut with the Maple Leafs in a 6–5 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 6.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeague GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2014–15Laval-Montréal Rousseau RoyalQMAAA 423111420 40222
2015–16Shawinigan CataractesQMJHL 5512322 20000
2016–17Shawinigan CataractesQMJHL 642101247 60000
2017–18Shawinigan CataractesQMJHL 635232867
2018–19San Diego GullsAHL 652141633 160336
2019–20San Diego GullsAHL 564151939
2020–21San Diego GullsAHL 3817832 30110
2020–21Anaheim DucksNHL 60002
2021–22San Diego GullsAHL 10000 20002
2021–22Anaheim DucksNHL 5314522
2022–23Anaheim DucksNHL 78371060
NHL totals 1374111584

References

  1. Lepage, Guillaume (April 30, 2021). "Ducks: Simon Benoit n'est pas rassasié" [Ducks: Simon Benoit is not satisfied]. NHL.com (in French). Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  2. "Un contrat de la LAH pour Simon Benoit" [AHL contract for Simon Benoit]. TVA Sports (in French). QMI. September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  3. "Ducks sign Simon Benoit". Anaheim Ducks. March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  4. "Ducks recall Zegras, Benoit from San Diego". Anaheim Ducks. April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  5. "Ducks defeat Kings 3-2". ESPN. April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  6. "Rasmus Asplund's 2nd goal in OT puts Sabres past Ducks 4-3". ESPN. Associated Press. October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  7. Kloke, Joshua (October 5, 2023). "Meet Simon Benoit, the defenceman the Maple Leafs could end up needing". The Athletic. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  8. "Ducks extend qualifying offers to five restricted free agents". Anaheim Ducks. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  9. "Maple Leafs add free-agent Simon Benoit to bolster defence". Sportsnet. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  10. Barden, Nick (October 8, 2023). "Maple Leafs Waive Martin Jones and Others to Clear Cap Space Ahead of NHL Regular Season Roster Submission Deadline". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  11. "Maple Leafs place Timothy Liljegren on LTIR, recall Simon Benoit, Maxime Lajoie". Sportsnet. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  12. Clipperton, Joshua (November 6, 2023). "Jarnkrok scores in OT as Maple Leafs pick up wild 6-5 win over Lightning". CP24. The Canadian Press. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
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