Matt Benning, ahead of his Leafs debut, on his return to the NHL: "My confidence is still there"

"I have been playing a lot of minutes down there, and that is fun. Obviously, I want to be here, but you can't really look in terms of what-ifs. I have been around here for a while with this organization and in the NHL. If you keep playing that (what-if) game, it's not good for you mentally. It is just about putting one foot in front of the other, working hard, and being a good teammate."

"You can't be too up or down. I know it is going to be hard; if anything, I am going to be too up. For me to settle into my game, I need to turn the dial just right. I told my wife yesterday that if there is an opportunity to come up and play, I will still be nervous, even though I have been around for a little while."

"For most of my pro career, I have been a third-pairing NHL defenseman. I am used to playing those 12-15 hard minutes. This past year, it has been more minutes against top guys, which is exciting to be more involved. In that aspect, it has helped me feel confident again with the puck and get back to where I need to be."

Matt Benning will dress for his first NHL game since October 29, 2024, with the Toronto Maple Leafs in New York. Benning spent the past year playing heavy minutes in the AHL, facing top competition and rebuilding confidence with the puck. He emphasized avoiding 'what-if' thinking, focusing on steady work, and being a good teammate. Benning expects to feel nervous but views that as a positive privilege and plans to give maximum effort. Coaches and veteran players in the organization helped him regain the form needed for a return.

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