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Benoit, 25, has performed a bigger position than anticipated in Toronto this season and has rapidly 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 led to 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 top of the season.
It was nonetheless some time earlier than he’d make his NHL debut, receiving a few brief recollects in 2019-20 that didn’t end in any main league motion. His first shot got here close to the top of the 2020-21 marketing campaign, the place he impressed with a optimistic shot-attempt share at even power 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 many of the season and notching a objective and 4 assists in 53 showings. His possession numbers dragged barely however had been nonetheless above acceptable for a depth defender on a rebuilding and defensively challenged group. He then earned a qualifying supply 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 position with the Geese, who stay the worst defensive group 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, usually saddled with the defensive duty of protecting for the moderately one-dimensional John Klingberg at even power as his companion. His possession metrics struggled consequently, though possibly not as a lot as anticipated. He logged a 41.4 CF% at even power, which was solely two factors worse than his off-ice CF% regardless of 63.8% of his zone begins coming within the defensive finish.
Nevertheless, 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 choice on the group depth chart behind different depth defenders like Klingberg, who additionally signed a one-year take care of 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 top 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 as a consequence of a lingering hip damage and Giordano, Timmins and Timothy Liljegren all lacking vital 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 the perfect 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 towards per recreation this yr 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 way of accidents on protection, even skating in a top-pairing position alongside Jake McCabe in Thursday night time’s 5-1 win over the Capitals. His position 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 professional stability for the primary time in his skilled profession and can proceed in a depth position for Toronto till his deal expires in 2027. He’ll be a UFA upon expiry.
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