"With defensemen usually at a premium come playoff time, it was a bit surprising that someone like Simon Benoit didn't draw more interest at the trade deadline. After all, with all of the qualities of a typical stay-at-home defender, Benoit would slot in seamlessly for any contender looking to beef up their bottom-four pairing. The young 27-year-old has the size (six foot four and 210 pounds), hits (149 in total) and blocks shots (86 in total) while clearing bodies in the front of his net for the goaltender."
"In addition, with just an annual $1.35 million AAV cap hit and no no-movement clauses, Benoit would have provided some massive value at a very economical cost for any team. The consolation part for the Leafs is the fact that he will be back with the team next season at that very minimal cost in helping with their retool."
The Toronto Maple Leafs made minimal moves at the trade deadline, dealing only Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton, and Bobby McMann despite expectations for significant activity. Multiple Leafs players appeared on trade boards, suggesting opportunities existed in what should have been a seller's market. Simon Benoit, a 27-year-old defenseman with strong physical attributes including size, hitting ability, and shot-blocking skills, remained with the team despite his economical $1.35 million cap hit and lack of no-movement clauses. Brandon Carlo also surprisingly stayed with Toronto despite being a defenseman typically in demand during playoff season. The Leafs may have missed opportunities to capitalize on available assets and generate solid returns.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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