If you had told Toronto Maple Leafs fans that their sixth- or seventh-best defenseman would become the hero in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, they might have laughed or asked you to take a sobriety test. But hockey is full of surprises, and Simon Benoit is proving exactly that.
Benoit Delivers in Overtime
On Thursday night, Simon Benoit — who had just seven playoff games and zero playoff points before this season — stepped up when it mattered most. He scored the overtime winner, giving the Maple Leafs a 3-0 series lead over the Ottawa Senators.
This wasn’t a one-off moment either. In Game 2, Benoit set up Max Domi’s overtime winner with a beautiful primary assist. In just a few days, Benoit has turned into an unexpected hero for Toronto.
A Trusted Player Behind the Scenes
Some saw this potential coming. In fact, one writer at THN.com had even picked Benoit as their choice for “unlikeliest playoff hero” in a pre-playoff poll.
And there were good reasons for that. As the regular season came to a close, Leafs coach Craig Berube was showing more and more trust in Benoit. Although Benoit averaged only 16:33 minutes of ice time across 78 regular-season games, Berube increased his ice time during Toronto’s critical final matches, often playing him more than 20 minutes per game.
These were not meaningless games — Toronto was still fighting hard for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. So, Berube only trusted players who could deliver, and Benoit was one of them.
Defense First, But Offense When Needed
Even though Benoit is now making headlines for his offense, it’s his defensive skills that first earned him a spot on the Leafs’ trusted list.
During the regular season:
- He averaged 2:05 minutes of penalty-killing time per game, ranking fourth among all Leafs players.
- His penalty-killing numbers were close to top defensemen like Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe.
- Benoit led the team in hits and was fourth in blocked shots.
These numbers show that he’s been a solid, physical presence, helping Toronto stay strong defensively.
A Bright Future for Benoit
Of course, Toronto’s overall defensive success still depends heavily on stars like Tanev, McCabe, and Brandon Carlo. But every time Simon Benoit steps onto the ice, he looks more confident and more effective.
And here’s the best part for Toronto fans: Benoit is under contract for two more years at a very affordable $1.35 million per season. For a defenseman making game-winning plays in the playoffs, that’s a real bargain.
Benoit’s career numbers — six goals in 279 regular-season games — suggest he isn’t likely to become a regular scorer. But playoffs often make heroes out of unlikely players, and right now, Simon Benoit is exactly that: Toronto’s playoff difference-maker.
