Toronto Maple Leafs sign Simon Benoit to one-year contract

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving announced Monday that the club has signed free agent defenseman Simon Benoit to a one-year contract. According to CapFriendly, the contract will have an average annual value of $775,000.

Benoit spent the 2022-23 season with the Anaheim Ducks, where he registered a career-high 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 78 games; he added 60 penalty minutes, two fighting majors, a team-leading 128 blocked shots and a team-leading 216 hits while averaging 19:21 of ice time.

The Laval, Quebec product joined the Ducks American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, as an undrafted free agent in September 2018. He registered 16 points in 65 games during his rookie campaign. In four seasons with the Gulls, Benoit registered seven goals and 36 assists for 43 points in 160 games; he added four assists in 21 Calder Cup Playoff contests.

Benoit made his NHL debut with the Ducks during the 2020-21 season. He found a full-time role in 2021-22, appearing in 53 games. In 137 games with the Ducks, Benoit has notched four goals and 11 assists for 15 points while adding 176 blocked shots and 404 hits.

Before signing with the Ducks organization, the 6-foot-3, 208-pound defenseman spent three seasons with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). During the 2017-18 season, Benoit represented Team QMJHL at the CHL/Russia Super Series, where he played on a team with the likes of Joe Veleno (Detroit Red Wings), Drake Batherson (Ottawa Senators), P.O. Joseph (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Noah Dobson (New York Islanders). In 182 QMJHL appearances with the Cataractes, Benoit registered eight goals and 35 assists for 43 points and 136 penalty minutes. He was held pointless in all eight QMJHL playoff contests.