Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
According to Chris Johnston and James Mirtle, the Toronto Maple Leafs could draw lots of interest in Simon Benoit and for some pretty good reasons too.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs facing a tough decision when it comes to buying or selling their assets, it really comes down to whether or not the team actually has the permission of their higher-ups to make the right choice whether to let them recoup assets or make one last desperate push.
We’ve heard a lot of noise surrounding Bobby McMann as he continues to be the focal point of trade rumours, and there seems to be a lot of interest from quite a few intriguing parties, but other names like Scott Laughton, Brandon Carlo, Nicolas Roy, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are all potential candidates to be dealt.
Though there’s one name who could end up bringing back a decent haul all things considered, and it’s pretty apparent as to why.
Benoit could bring back haul for Maple Leafs that was never anticipated
Simon Benoit, a defenceman who could be classified as a depth defender though he plays a lot of minutes for the Maple Leafs, has also started to draw some attention and according to two insiders; he could bring in a better trade than expected.
Chris Johnston and James Mirtle wrote in their article for The Athletic and talked about a rebuild and what it would look like, when the topic of Benoit came up and what he could fetch in a trade:
Benoit is younger and cheaper ($1.35 million cap hit) than Luke Schenn, who commanded a second-round and fourth-round pick a year ago at the deadline when he went to Winnipeg.
Benoit doesn’t have the same pedigree and playoff experience as Schenn, but he’s still believed to have value on the market given his size, physicality and the term remaining on his reasonable contract.
There’s a lot to say for a contender to add a player who is 6’4, 210 pounds and loves to hit everything that moves.
While his defensive game does leave a bit to be desired at times, Benoit plays with a lot of heart and for teams looking to add a cheap physical presence at only 27 years old; there might be a team willing to overpay.
Toronto is going to make a huge mistake if they don’t make a deal involving Simon Benoit
If someone is going to pay that much for Schenn — a player 10 years older and slower than Benoit, then he should be able to bring in at least a decent grouping of picks though there is a bit of a caveat.
That robs Toronto of missing out on a couple picks for someone who is really a third-pairing or depth defender is a loss that really makes no sense, and for a team that already has a bunch of young big defenders — why not move him for something?
Benoit, 27, has three assists in 49 games this season to go along with 128 hits, 79 blocks, and a minus-five in 17:21 TOI. He makes $1.35-million for this year as well as next season.
If the Maple Leafs are able to find a deal for Benoit, they need to take it considering they have enough bodies to cover for him and the ability to recoup some assets is something the team can’t afford to pass up.
But if they don’t get the green light, and Benoit stays here then everyone has to hope he turns up the gears and becomes the defender Toronto needs, and not the one they need to get rid of.
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A depth defenceman in Toronto is drawing trade interest for three clear reasons
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