"Benoit went on to have a solid 2023-24 campaign on the bottom pairing and came back in 2024-25 showing that he wasn't a one year wonder."
"The fact that Simon Benoit was put in situations where he had to repeatedly fill a role beyond that of sixth defenceman was a reoccurring problem throughout 2025-26."
"Benoit was hit hard twice in his usage this season. With Tanev being out and Oliver Ekman-Larsson having a strong statistical season, his 2024-25 partner was yanked away from him."
"That isn't a task suited to him, and it showed."
Simon Benoit was initially viewed as a questionable addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs but proved to be a solid bottom pairing defender in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. However, in 2025-26, he faced challenges due to injuries and was often placed in roles beyond his capability. The absence of key partners and the need for him to step up in the lineup revealed deeper issues with the team's defensive depth and coaching decisions regarding player deployment.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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