The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a difficult position. They are six points out of a wild-card spot but are currently on a three-game win streak heading into the Olympic break. A couple of weeks ago, everyone assumed they’d be sellers at the deadline. Now it’s not so simple. They might still sell, but not in a “blow it up” kind of way — more like “move a couple pieces, get younger, and set things up properly for next season.”
Would the Maple Leafs let go of Simon Benoit?
Yesterday, in The Hockey Writers, Spencer Lazary put forth the idea of a one-on-one trade between the Montréal Canadiens and the Maple Leafs. The Canadiens would get Simon Benoit from the Maple Leafs and would send back young blueliner Arber Xhekaj. Does the trade have merit for both or either team?
For Toronto, Xhekaj checks a few boxes. He’s younger, and he plays with an edge. He’s the kind of guy who might benefit from a fresh start, because it feels like Montréal isn’t sure what to do with him anymore. And from Toronto’s standpoint, physical young blue-liners with upside don’t exactly fall out of trees.
But the risk is obvious: Benoit has been a solid player in Toronto. He’s not exciting, but he’s steady, he’s predictable, and he gives the Maple Leafs exactly what they’ve been short on. Benoit, who is from Quebec, is reliable, hard-working, and no-nonsense. He doesn’t try to be anything fancy.
Montréal will be making the postseason and needs consistency in the playoffs.
If Toronto believes it can still make the playoffs, trading Benoit now would be a tough decision. He has been a solid player, providing important consistency during this crucial time. Montréal’s angle is basically the opposite. They’d be giving up their youth and potential for a sure thing. Benoit would help them immediately, and bringing in a Quebec-born player is never a bad marketing move in that market. But giving up the Hamilton-born Xhekaj isn’t nothing. He’s still young enough to grow into a real piece, and if he pops somewhere else, they’ll hear about it forever.
So it’s one of those rare trades where both sides would be taking a gamble, and both sides would be able to justify it.
While it probably won’t happen, it might check some boxes for the Maple Leafs and the Canadiens.
Does it happen? Probably not. Trades between rivals are always tough to pull off. But if the Maple Leafs are looking ahead to next season, which they honestly should be, a move like this is the kind of conversation they need to be having. Not big splashy deals, not desperation buys, just smart bets on players who still have room to grow.
And Xhekaj fits that mould a lot more than people want to admit.