Simon Benoit
Born (1998-09-19) September 19, 1998 (age 25)
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 2018–present

Simon Benoit (born September 19, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He most recently played for the Anaheim Ducks 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 in the eighth round, 129th overall, of the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Benoit with the Anaheim Ducks in 2023.

Benoit played three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League 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, the primary affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks on September 25, 2018.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

In the following 2021–22 season, on October 28, 2021, Benoit scored his first NHL goal with the Ducks, a game tying goal, against the Buffalo Sabres in a 4-3 OT loss.

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 free agent.[5] He was signed in August 2023 to a one-year contract by the Toronto Maple Leafs.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Laval-Montréal Rousseau Royal QMAAA 42 3 11 14 20 4 0 2 2 2
2015–16 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 55 1 2 3 22 2 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 64 2 10 12 47 6 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 63 5 23 28 67
2018–19 San Diego Gulls AHL 65 2 14 16 33 16 0 3 3 6
2019–20 San Diego Gulls AHL 56 4 15 19 39
2020–21 San Diego Gulls AHL 38 1 7 8 32 3 0 1 1 0
2020–21 Anaheim Ducks NHL 6 0 0 0 2
2021–22 San Diego Gulls AHL 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
2021–22 Anaheim Ducks NHL 53 1 4 5 22
2022–23 Anaheim Ducks NHL 78 3 7 10 60
NHL totals 137 4 11 15 84

References

  1. ^ "AHL contract for Simon Benoit" (in French). tvasports.ca. September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  2. ^ "Ducks sign Simon Benoit". Anaheim Ducks. March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  3. ^ "Ducks recall Zegras, Benoit from San Diego". Anaheim Ducks. April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Ducks defeat Kings 3-2". ESPN. April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Ducks extend qualifying offers to five restricted free agents". Anaheim Ducks. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  6. ^ https://www.sportsnet.ca/article/maple-leafs-add-free-agent-simon-benoit-to-bolster-defence/. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |title= (help)